China's General Administration of Customs confirmed that the country will now allow Belgian beef to be imported, ending a 22-year embargo.
Beef from Belgium was previously prevented from entering China on account of the foot-and-mouth disease that spread across European farms 20 years ago. However in a surprise move, Chinese authorities lifted the ban on both Belgian and Polish beef on Thursday.
According to China's customs agency, the measures taken by Belgium and Poland to check for the disease now meet Chinese requirements.
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Director of the federation of Belgian meat (FEBEV) Michael Gore said that "several steps still need to be taken" with the Belgian food agency FAVV currently in talks with the Chinese partners to discuss the upcoming imports.
"It is in in any case a positive signal, which will be further fleshed out in the coming months," Gore concluded.
