China Eases Market Access for French Pork Offal, Poultry and Wine
China agreed to widen access for several French agri-food products during Xi Jinping's visit to Paris, including white pork offal, poultry under avian-flu conditions and geographically protected wines. Five agreements were signed, and the pork sector expects exports to China to rise by up to 10%, worth an additional 26 million euros.
China will ease access for a range of French agricultural products, including poultry in the event of avian flu, white pork offal and wines with protected geographical indications, the French Ministry of Agriculture said on Tuesday, according to a statement transmitted to AFP.
Five agreements in total were signed during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Paris, the ministry detailed.
Poultry and pork gains
One of the agreements will allow French companies to continue exporting poultry to the Chinese market even if a case of avian flu is detected in France, provided the meat comes from areas free of the virus. This regionalization principle is designed to prevent nationwide export halts when localized outbreaks occur.
China also agreed to authorize imports of white pork offal as well as processed pork proteins. Anne Richard, director of the pork interprofession Inaporc, welcomed an agreement she described as "very positive" for the sector.
France exports to China mainly products that are little consumed in France and Europe but considered "noble" thousands of kilometers away, such as pig ears and feet, Richard explained. In upcoming containers bound for China, French exporters will be able to include "white offal" — the pieces from the digestive system such as the stomach and intestine.
"This can allow us to increase our exports to China by 10%," Richard said, which would amount to potential additional revenue of 26 million euros.
Beef embargo still unresolved
On bovine meat, "France will remain vigilant to achieve the complete lifting of the embargo with regard to bovine spongiform encephalopathy," the scientific name for mad cow disease, the statement said, without giving further detail.
An agreement signed in 2018 had theoretically lifted the Chinese embargo on French beef that was imposed in 2001 following the mad cow crisis. In a statement transmitted by the Elysée on Monday, the two countries said they are also discussing "the opening of the (Chinese) market to dehydrated alfalfa."
Wine cooperation and appellations
On beverages, an "administrative arrangement on wine cooperation will allow the promotion and structuring, and will facilitate cooperation in the wine sector in China," the statement said, notably citing the protection of intellectual property.
Two Burgundy wine appellations, Mâcon and Gevrey Chambertin, are expected to be officially recognized in China this month.
What it means for traders
- Pork exporters gain access to white offal and processed pork proteins, targeting products with strong demand in China but limited domestic value in Europe.
- Poultry exporters gain protection against blanket export bans tied to avian-flu outbreaks, through zoning based on virus-free areas.
- Wine exporters gain intellectual-property recognition for protected appellations, starting with Mâcon and Gevrey Chambertin.
