China suspended imports of Irish beef after authorities confirmed an outbreak of the bluetongue virus in County Wexford, a setback for exporters barely two weeks after the Chinese market reopened to Irish meat.
The Department of Agriculture said it notified Beijing of the confirmed cases, and that Chinese authorities “subsequently informed us that they have suspended the acceptance of Irish beef exported from Ireland with effect from 27 January 2026.”
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Minister Heydon described the move as a temporary measure. “As with all temporary suspensions, it is a matter for the importing country when they will recommence the acceptance of exports of Irish beef,” he said.
The decision follows confirmation of additional bluetongue detections in three cattle herds located near the first infected holding in Wexford. Testing identified seven infected cattle in the initial herd. In the additional herds, two farms each had one infected bovine and a third had two infected bovines, bringing the total number of confirmed positives to 11 across four herds. None of the animals has shown clinical signs of illness, officials said.
Surveillance and testing in the area are continuing, with further results expected in the coming days. “Early detection has been a crucial part of our strategy against the bluetongue virus and the rapid response reflects my Department’s commitment to that,” Minister Heydon said.
Bluetongue is an animal health disease that can cause severe illness in livestock—particularly cattle and sheep—and can also affect goats, deer and llamas. The virus poses no risk to human health or food safety, according to the department.
The virus is not contagious between animals. It is primarily transmitted by biting midges, which pick up the virus from an infected animal and pass it on to the next host. Crucially, the virus cannot replicate inside the midge at temperatures below 12 degrees Celsius. Officials said the current cold spell is expected to limit further spread.
While beef shipments to China are halted, the outbreak will also affect live exports of cattle and sheep to some countries outside the European Union that require disease-free certification. Exports to smaller markets such as the United Arab Emirates will be suspended for 12 months, the department said.
The setback comes just over two weeks after China reopened to Irish beef, ending a closure that had been in place since September 2024 following an atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Ireland. The swift reimposition of trade restrictions underscores the sensitivity of animal health events in high-value export markets and the importance of rapid disease detection.
Authorities have urged continued vigilance as testing continues around the affected zone in Wexford. With cooler temperatures curbing midge activity and no clinical disease observed to date, officials are cautiously optimistic the outbreak can be contained while trade partners assess Ireland’s status.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
