Ban on British Cheese Exports to China Lifted

10 Jun 2014 --- The temporary ban on the export of British cheese to China has been lifted, according to an announcement by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The ban, which has been in force since 1 May this year, meant that any UK company wanting to export cheese to China required a full inspection to check for compliance with both EU and Chinese dairy requirements.

The ban was implemented following a visit by a Chinese firm to a British cheesemaker, which flagged up hygiene concerns. These restrictions have been lifted as of this week, meaning that UK cheese producers can now export to China once again, providing they have passed the standard local authority checks.

“We welcome the news that the temporary restrictions on cheese exports to China have been lifted,” said a Defra spokesperson. “The Chinese market is vital for the UK with exports of food, feed and drink worth £257m last year. We appreciate the Chinese authorities’ help and support to resolve this quickly.”

China is placing a high priority on food safety following a series of contamination crises, including a large scandal in 2008 in which six children died from drinking contaminated infant formula.

Britain exports 11.5 tonnes of cheese to China each year, which is less than 1% of total British cheese exports. China’s consumption of cheese is rising rapidly however, so it is an important growth market for cheese producing nations.