The Chinese authorities will send a team next month to look at the beef inspection system in Ireland, with a view to opening its market to Irish beef, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has said.

Mr Coveney is in China, where he is leading an agri-food trade mission. He said China's decision to send the team to Ireland was a major step forward for Irish beef access in China. EU beef has been barred from China since 2000 following the BSE crisis and Ireland has been pushing to have the ban lifted.

Mr Coveney made the announcement after meetings in Beijing yesterday with Chinese minister for agriculture Han Changfu and the Chinese minister responsible for market access, Zhi Shuping.

He said the Chinese decision followed intensive technical engagement between his department and the Chinese authorities over the past two years. He was confident the Chinese visit would give the Irish beef industry the opportunity to prove its credentials as a safe and secure supplier of world-class beef.

China consumes approximately 5.6 million tonnes of beef a year but consumption has been steadily increasing in recent years.

“Demand for beef in China is expected to rise by one million tonnes over the next five years, and I am determined that Irish farmers and processors should have access to this critically important market. Beef access to the Chinese market is a huge prize and my department and the beef industry will now work to ensure that that inspection visit is successful.” He said progress was also made in securing access for Irish sheep meat.

Thirty-seven companies are taking part in the trade mission, including Richard Keenan & Co, the feeding and feed efficiency technology company based in Borris, Co Carlow. It said yesterday it had joined forces with University College Dublin and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences to form the China-Ireland Dairy Science and Technology Centre. The centre's goal is to improve feeding efficiency and animal health while reducing the environmental impact of dairy farming.

Mr Coveney also signed an agreement with his Chinese counterparts for a pilot electronic certification system for the dairy sector. Dairy exports to China are worth more than €270 million a year and the new agreement will make their certification more efficient.