Mei Kebao, the Vice Minister of China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (GAQSIQ) is visiting Ulaanbaatar from 28^th to 30^th August. In the framework of the visit N.Tsagaankhuu, acting chairman of General Authority of Specialized Inspection of Mongolia received the Chinese delegations yesterday (29^th August).

During the visit so far, the Chinese Vice-Minister has signed memoranda on plant quarantine requirements for Mongolia’s export of silimarina seeds to China, on quarantine for mutton, beef and goat meat, hygiene, veterinary service. A Mongolia-Chinese cooperation agreement on border hygiene and quarantine has also been signed.   

Policy makers have been raising the issue of meat exports, seeking an alternative revenue source due to Mongolia's economic slowdown, mainly caused by falling prices of mining commodities. China received a request of Mongolia to export meat worth $1 billion and issued permission to purchase raw beef, sheep and goat meat.

Foot and mouth disease of livestock is a big challenge for meat producers in Mongolia, and this has hindered meat exports for animal health reasons. However, the Mongolian Ministry of Food and Agriculture has started resolving this issue as a result of numerous discussions and agreements with Chinese and Russian counterparts in 2015.