DEFRA ministers are lobbying the Chinese Government to lift its four-year ban on wool from South Lakeland.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Collins has been urging ministers to take up the case against the ban on unwashed British wool after the Chinese introduces a ban in 1999. China was formerly the largest market for British wool.

Following foot-and-mouth in Britain, the Chinese authorities further strengthened its import barriers with more bans on British farm goods.

But last year the Chinese lifted the ban of treated British wool and DEFRA minister Lord Whitty has written to Tim Collins saying the department now hopes to get the ban on untreated, or greasy wool, lifted soon.

May 15, 2003 13:00