Sino-French Agreement on Meat and Agricultural Exports
CHINA - France's agriculture minister, Stéphane Le Foll, has signed a health cooperation agreement that opens business opportunities for French food and agricultural sectors in China.France and China have signed a cooperation agreement over food safety practices that should open up the Chinese market to French meat and foods.
The agreement was signed by the French Agriculture Minister Stépan Le Foll and the Chinese Minister of the General Administration of control Quality, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), Zhi Shupingduring a state visit to China last week.
Mr Le Foll and Mr Zhi said that food safety measures to protect the consumer are a priority for international trade in agricultural and food products to provide people with asafe, diverse and balanced products.
This French-Chinese cooperation will help to improve the understanding between the two countries and strengthen dialogue to reduce health barriers to trade.
The agreement is expected to benefit trade in pork products in particular and it will mark a breakthrough in opening up the market to China.
A Chinese expert mission is expected to travel to France shortly to approve the facilities for exports to China.
The agreement also opens discussion on potential beef exports, with both sides agreeing to abide by the international standards of the OIE – World Organization for Animal Health.
Agreements were also reached on the production of milk powder and the development of swine genetics.