The 9th Australian meat processing plant has been suspended from trading meat to China. Brisbane-based Australian Country Choice Company (ACC) received an alert from Australian authorities that its trade with China has been suspended from October 18.

ACC said in a statement that Chinese authorities have detected a chemical commonly used to treat bacterial infections in dogs in meat processed at its Cannon Hill slaughterhouse. "The reason China provided to DAWE is that the random sampling of chloramphenicol in beef products inspected by China at the Ningbo port of entry was unqualified," the ACC statement said.


ACC said that chloramphenicol is a drug used to treat bacterial infections in animals, but it is not prescribed for cattle in Australia.

"The department is currently cooperating with the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) to suspend exports and seek further clarification on the institutions involved," a DAWE spokesperson said.

ACC became the ninth Australian meat processing plant to suspend trade with China since May last year.

The list of affected meat processing plants includes the John Dee factory in Queensland, which is also related to chloramphenicol in meat. The industry estimates that the trade suspension will cause hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.

China remains one of the most profitable markets for Australian beef, and it is understood that there are still 35 Australian meat processing plants eligible to export to China.