Irish seafood trade mission to China
Micheál O’Mahony, SFPA
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) recently participated in the Irish trade mission to China led by Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. This trip allowed the SFPA to continue to build on pre-existing linkages with relevant authorities in China responsible for checks and acceptance of Irish seafood entering China.
In China, the SFPA participated in meetings with representatives from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), the organisation which carries out the import controls in China, at their headquarters in Beijing.
Representatives of the Chinese Certification and Accreditation Association (CNCA) responsible for registering products and companies to allow trade into China were also present. This was followed by a meeting at the AQSIQ’s Shandong regional offices in the Chinese sea-port of Quingdao where a significant amount of Irish food product arrives.
Bilateral meetings
Since the trade mission in April, the SFPA has participated in a technical bilateral meeting around the visit to Ireland of a senior delegation from the AQSIQ led by Vice Minister, Wei Chuanzhong . A further technical bilateral meeting on seafood trade between Ireland and China is planned in the coming months. The SFPA has led on the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding on seafood trade between Ireland and China; this is currently close to finalisation.
This is part of the SFPA’s ongoing role in facilitating the trade of Irish seafood products building upon the compliance of the Irish industry. As part of its responsibility in the official control of both seafood safety and sea fisheries conservation in Ireland, the SFPA provides Health and Catch Certificates to validate the compliance of consignments of Irish seafood going to third countries (outside of the EU).
Expanding Irish product
With the support of the Irish Embassy in Beijing, the SFPA began discussions with AQSIQ in 2009, focussing on the objective of facilitating expansion of trade of Irish seafood into China. Meetings between the SFPA and the AQSIQ in Beijing and the visit of a Director from the AQSIQ to Ireland resulted in agreement on health certificates, opening up the Chinese market for live fishery products from Ireland as well as enhancing the basis for trade in other fishery products.
Since then, approximately 5,700 tonnes and 1,400 tonnes respectively of Irish fishery products were certified for export to China by the SFPA in 2010 and 2011. High volume frozen fishery products include mackerel, horse-mackerel and blue whiting. Emerging markets include both crab and boarfish.
In terms of live fishery products, the trade in live Irish crab to China has developed rapidly since the successful creation of market access for such products by the SFPA in 2010, and there is every indication of ongoing expansion potential.
Logistical challenges
The distance from the Chinese market creates specific logistical challenges when exporting a live product; however Irish exporters are at the forefront of technological advances that maintain crab viability during air transport. Even with the best technology available, official import controls on entry to China are required to be conducted within a timeframe that acknowledges the particular perishable nature of this product. This topic is a particular focus in current bilateral discussions by the SFPA with Chinese authorities, and also with national airport authorities.
Our relationship with our Chinese colleagues is an important underlying basis to continuing market access for Irish seafood to China. International trade in food involves reciprocated trust in food control systems and we work hard to maximise the benefit of the high standards which Irish seafood companies adhere to.
We are proud to attest to that compliance and wherever possible to maximise benefit of such compliance to Irish operators. Our discussions in recent months with the AQSIQ and CNCA build upon our developing relationship with these key stakeholders.
In particular we are hopeful that our concerns around perishable live fishery products should increase awareness and hopefully ensure prioritisation within the Chinese import control system. The SFPA is delighted to see our official controls continue to support trade by Irish producers.
