
The list of Australian companies allowed to EXPORT beef to CHINA is getting shorter. Last week, Australian Country Choice (ACC) became the ninth MEAT producer to have its supply license revoked by the People's Republic after testing traces of chloramphenicol in frozen beef. it is commonly used to treat bacterial infections in dogs, but is not prescribed for cattle in Australia. ACC pointed out that the beef in violation of the requirements was not processed in its own supply chain, but on behalf of a known export buyer and exported to China under an ACC license.
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud noted that the supply of beef from some Australian companies has been stopped since May 2020. "Despite the information provided to the Chinese authorities, as well as our efforts at the governmental, ministerial and diplomatic levels, China is in no hurry to renew the accreditation of Australian exporters," the minister lamented.
Observers attribute this to political tensions between the two countries, which have already led to numerous trade restrictions by China . Western media are calling the current restrictions China's "vendetta" against actions that followed Canberra's call in the past to investigate the origins of the CORONAVIRUS.
Australia's beef exports to the People's Republic fell 43.2% year on year to 108,780 tonnes in January-September 2021, the lowest level in 35 years, according to industry body Meat & Livestock.