China approves beef imports from Ireland

DUBLIN, Apr 16 (Reuters): Ireland will become the first European Union (EU) country to gain access to China's fast-growing beef market after its agriculture minister said on Monday that Beijing had approved imports from three Irish processors.

Beijing banned imports of beef from European countries and the United States following outbreaks of mad cow disease in the 1990s but worries about the disease are subsiding following more stringent inspections on foreign arrivals.

Ireland succeeded in getting its curbs lifted alongside the United States and South Africa last year following years of lobbying. China started inspections of Irish meat export facilities in 2014. "I understand that the Chinese authorities will list a number of our beef establishments within the next few days," Irish Agriculture Minister Michael Creed said in a statement. The approval gives Ireland access to the world's fastest-growing beef market and second largest importer for the first time.

Demand for red meat in China, the world's second-largest economy, has risen strongly in recent years due to rising incomes and a richer diet.

China is already Ireland's third largest market for agricultural exports.