Pork export deal must be addressed: Ritchie

SDLP MP for South Down, Margaret Ritchie, has called on the First Minister Arlene Foster MLA to raise the Northern Ireland's application to export pork to the Chinese market with officials during her Ministerial visit to China
SDLP MP Margaret RitchieSDLP MP Margaret Ritchie
SDLP MP Margaret Ritchie

Ms Ritchie has said: “Pork farmers in Northern Ireland have already had to wait too long for access to Chinese markets. Exports to China could be worth £10 million a year for NI pork productions, and the continuing delays in our access application are holding back our agri-foods industry.

“If the First Minister’s visit to China is to be worth the expense, she must ascertain what has been holding up our application for export access and determine what the Executive can do to expedite the process.

“With our farmers facing low prices and economic insecurity, the First Minister must make good her talk on global market opportunities and raise the matter urgently with Chinese officials.”

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