Austria and China reach import agreement

Austrian companies may now provide significantly more cheese and dairy products to China than in the past, due to a conversation in Beijing between Austrian minister for agriculture Andrae Rupprechter and Zhi Shuping, Chinese minister for quality supervision, inspection and quarantine.

The export of dairy products from Austria to China was previously possible, but only for the chosen few. According to Shuping, export certificates for milk products now be issued by the Chinese authorities to 24 Austrian companies. These certificates also affect the supply of cheese, says the Chinese minister.

Rupprechter notes, “The demand for cheese is rising steadily in China. This is a great opportunity for our domestic dairy industry, so soon after the expiry of the milk quota on 1 April. More and more consumers in China attach importance to quality and safe food. Now we have to grab this opportunity as soon as possible.”

Rupprechter also has had talks with the Chinese minister for agriculture Han Changfu, where the issues of food safety and food control were in the focus. This emphasized the China’s interest in the Austrian systems for quality assurance and control and the two ministers agreed to establish a joint working group.

The Chinese minister of agriculture has accepted an invitation of visiting Austria to study specific cooperation projects dealing in organic agriculture.