CHINA has suspended four major Australian meatworks in what appears to be a further retaliation against Australia's push for an inquiry in the origin of the devastating COVID-19 virus.
The suspended plants are: JBS Australia's Beef City plant near Toowoomba, Qld, JBS's Dinmore plant near Ipswich, Qld, the Chinese-owned Kilcoy Global Foods at Kilcoy, Qld, and the Northern Cooperative Meat Company at Casino, NSW.
The bans are understood to specifically relate to issues related to labeling and health certificate requirements.
The suspensions are extremely worrying for the beef industry as they effectively stop beef from those plants being exported to China until the technical breaches are remedied.
In late April, China's ambassador to Australia, Jingye Cheng, warned Australian beef sales could be further negatively impacted if the Morrison government persisted with its demands for an inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic.
China is Australia's number one market for beef by volume (almost 300,000 tonnes in 2019), accounting for about 29 per cent of Australia's total beef exports. The four suspended meatworks are understood to represent about 20pc of Australia's exports to China.
Australian Meat Industry Council chief executive officer Patrick Hutchinson said China was a valued export market for Australian beef.
"We have created strong commercial relationships, linkages and supply chains to supply Chinese consumers with high quality Australian product," Mr Hutchison's statement reads.
"Australia remains as one of the world's most reliable exporters throughout the COVID-19 period, faring exceptionally well due to the preparedness measures implemented by establishments.
"AMIC and its members are well aware that China has strict requirements for technical matters, including labeling, and the Australian meat industry takes these concerns exceptionally seriously.
"While not desirable, we have dealt with issues of this nature before and are working closely with the Commonwealth.
"This is a trade and market access issue that is being led by the Commonwealth."
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said Chinese authorities had advised on late Monday that four Australian meat establishments have been suspended over issues related to labelling and health certificate requirements.
"We are concerned that the suspensions appear to be based on highly technical issues, which in some cases date back more than a year," Senator Birmingham said.
"I've been speaking with industry leaders, colleagues and departments overnight to formulate a comprehensive response,
"We will work with industry and authorities in both Australia and China to seek to find a solution that allows these businesses to resume their normal operations as soon as possible."
The suspensions of the meatworks follow on from China's threats to impose tariffs of up to 80 per cent on Australian barley.
China previously suspensions six meatworks for three months in 2017. Beef City, Kilcoy and NCMC were caught up in those delistings over labeling issues.
- with Jamieson Murphy
