Beijing has banned all British cheese imports after food inspectors were dissatisfied with standards at an isolated British dairy that doesn't actually supply the product to the country.
Chinese officials were dissatisfied with the maintenance, raw milk transport temperatures, chemical storage and air sanitisation at the incriminating plant- although it does not export the product to the country. As a result, China's authorities are now demanding that all UK dairies exporting cheese to China must pass council inspections before the restriction is relaxed. The visit came as part of a European tour inspecting food plants ahead of a new food safety law which wll be implemented on May 1.
British farming minister, George Eustice, insisted that British cheese is safe. He said, “British cheese is the best in the world and produced to the highest safety and quality standards so it is disappointing that China have put a temporary block on cheese imports. Food inspectors will now visit all factories exporting cheese to China to demonstrate their high standards so these restrictions can be lifted as soon as possible."
Tory MP Andrew Percy, secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Cheese Group, echoed Eustice and described the ban as an "over-reaction and disproportionate. "We have some of the highest food production standards in the world as well as the world’s finest cheeses," he said.
Britain currently exports 11.5 tonnes of cheese to China each year, valued at 982,666 yuan ($156,993). The ban will not include products made before the new law comes into force.
[Image via Flickr]
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