UK and China make £50 million pork deal
Agricultural Minister Jim Paice has announced a landmark agreement with China that will significantly boost trade for British food and farming businesses. In a deal estimated to be worth £50 million, British pork - mostly the "fifth quarter" such as offal, trotters and ears - will be exported to China.
Mr Paice said: "China is the most lucrative grocery market in the world and, from fashion to food, its rapidly expanding middle class has an appetite for western goods."
He added: "In particular they are eating more meat, and our top quality produces have got huge opportunities to meet that demand and help our economic recovery."
In addition, the industry is currently developing its trade in genetic material for breeding programmes, as British pigs are more fertile and productive.
BPEX chairman Stewart Houston called the deal "a wonderful achievement," adding that it is "something we have been working towards for several years in close co-operation with DEFRA and the British embassy in Beijing."
HMRC has invited feedback to its communications regarding the employment status of locum vets and vet nurses.
