China opens it market to Italian pork

Last Tuesday, September 27th, and after more than 10 years of negotiations, the Ministry of Health of Italy was informed, by the Chinese embassy in Italy, of the decision made by the “Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine General Administration” (AQSIQ) of China on opening the Chinese market to Italian pork through the acknowledgment of Italy being free from swine vesicular disease in the North macroregion (the regions of Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Lombardy, Marche, Piedmont, Aosta Valley, Veneto and the autonomous provinces Trento and Bolzano).

This announcement will allow the activation of the operational procedures with the Chinese authorities for the effective opening of the market for fresh pork and products with a short curing process. The exportation of these products was hindered by the fact that Italy was not deemed free from swine vesicular disease, despite the problem being limited to just two regions.

The opening of the Chinese market to the pork, pig fat and pig offal exports, although limited to the North macroregion, could generate, in a first stage, an exports turnover of some €50 million.