Dublin: China has temporarily suspended imports of Irish beef following the confirmation of bluetongue disease in cattle in Ireland, the Minister for Agriculture has confirmed.
The decision follows the detection of bluetongue in a cattle herd in County Wexford last week, with three additional nearby herds subsequently testing positive. The suspension applies to beef exports from Ireland with effect from January 27, 2026.
The development comes less than two weeks after China resumed Irish beef imports, which had been halted since September 2024 due to an isolated case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The minister described the renewed suspension as “deeply disappointing” and said discussions are ongoing between Irish authorities, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and the Irish Embassy in Beijing to resolve the issue.
In total, seven cattle in the initially affected herd tested positive, while three further cases were confirmed in neighbouring herds. None of the animals have shown clinical signs of the disease. The Department of Agriculture said monitoring and testing are continuing, with further results expected in the coming days.
Bluetongue is a viral disease affecting cattle, sheep, goats and deer. It poses no risk to human health or food safety but can have significant implications for live animal and meat exports, as many non-EU countries require disease-free status. In addition to China, exports of cattle and sheep to other markets, including the UAE, are expected to be suspended for up to 12 months.
The disease is not contagious between animals and is spread by infected midges. Officials believe widespread transmission is unlikely at present, as midges cannot reproduce at temperatures below 12°C and current weather conditions are unfavourable for their activity.
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