Beef exports from Ireland to China have been stopped again due to the detection of bluetongue here, just over two weeks after the market reopened.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine confirmed to Agriland that, under the protocol governing the beef trade between Ireland and China, the department is required to notify the competent authorities in China of an outbreak of certain diseases, including bluetongue.

The department notified the relevant Chinese authority, the General Administration of Customs China (GACC) of the outbreak, a department spokesperson confirmed.

The GACC then subsequently informed the department that it has suspended the acceptance of beef exported from Ireland, effective from yesterday (Tuesday, January 27).

The spokesperson said that the department and the Irish embassy in Beijing are engaging with the GACC with a view to resolving the suspension in timely manner.

However, as with all temporary suspensions, the timing is a matter for the Chinese authorities, the spokesperson noted.

Beef exports to China

The Chinese market only reopened to Irish beef this month, having been stopped over a year earlier, in October 2024, after an atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was discovered in a cow here.

The animal was tested in mid-September 2024, and on foot of those results authorities in China - as well as South Korea - were informed and exports of beef halted, in line with the agreements in place with both countries.

Bluetongue

It was confirmed over the weekend that an outbreak of bluetongue was detected in a cattle herd in Co. Wexford.

The department held an emergency meeting with stakeholders on Monday (January 26).

Agriland understands that during the "detailed briefing" DAFM reiterated that the case was detected through culled cow routine surveillance in a slaughterhouse.

The department is continuing to carry out epidemiological investigations and surveillance in the southeast and is tracing animals which moved out of the affected herd, to establish the degree to which disease may be present.

Agriland understands that the department told the meeting that, based on current results, no widespread transmission of the disease is indicated at this time.

The department believes that the likely source for this case is a midge infected with bluetongue virus being blown across the Irish Sea last autumn.

Testing of the impacted herd revealed presence of bluetongue virus in one other animal.

Neither of the two positive animals were imported nor did they show clinical symptoms.

Additional reporting by Aisling O'Brien