China lifts restrictions on UK pork exports

In a significant development for the UK pork industry, China has lifted restrictions on unprocessed pork exports from major UK processing plants, a move that could enhance revenue by approximately GBP80 million. This announcement was made by the UK government on Dec. 8.

The restrictions had been in place since 2020, when China suspended export licenses for various UK pork plants amid the COVID-19 pandemic, severely impacting the UK's ability to ship pork to one of its largest markets.

With the lifting of these restrictions, UK pork producers are now authorized to resume their exports to China. China imported GBP180 million worth of UK processed pigmeat including sausages and bacon in 2023, making it the UK's largest non-EU customer.

The decision to lift the suspension follows high-level discussions during UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy's recent visit to China.

Daniel Zeichner, Minister for Food Security, in a statement, hailed the lifting of the ban as a significant victory for British pork producers, stating that they can now send their "high-quality products to one of our largest markets, worth GBP180 million."

Lizzie Wilson, chief executive of the National Pig Association, expressed her support for the decision, calling it a substantial boost to the UK pork sector.

"It has taken a long time to get back to this position, with a lot of frustration along the way," she said in a statement.

This development marks a hopeful turn for UK pork producers as they aim to capitalize on the renewed access to the Chinese market.