China may soon start importing buffalo meat from India through the official channel instead of routing it through Vietnam. A team of Chinese quality inspectors are scheduled to examine Indian facilities this week to give their approval for exports.

Inspectors from China’s quality management body AQSIQ (General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine) will visit vaccination centres, review disease control programmes and also inspect some abattoirs, a Government official told BusinessLine .

“Once India starts exporting directly to China, costs will go down for both countries as they will not have to involve a third country. Buffalo meat exports reaching China can potentially double,” the official said.

New Delhi has been trying to convince China to allow buffalo meat from the country for long as the Indian meat is considered one of the best in the world and the country is now the largest exporter of the commodity. “We export buffalo meat all over the world including Western countries that have strict sanitary and phytosanitary conditions. There is no reason why China can’t buy from us,” the official said.

China had agreed to source bovine meat from India two years back and had even signed a Memorandum of Understanding for its export. However, it did not act on the matter at all.

Earlier this year, India nudged China through the World Trade Organisation, asking it not to unfairly block India’s exports and to take the required action that would allow shipments to move.

According to industry estimates, Chinese traders sourced more than $1.5 billion worth of Indian buffalo meat from Vietnam in 2014-15. “Exports have the potential to cross $ 3 billion once exports start officially as third parties will not have to be paid. The Chinese can also ensure that the quality standards are strictly adhered to,” the official added.

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