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Business & Money

Sweden close to pig ear export deal with China

Published: 23 May 11 12:52 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/33934/20110523/

The Swedish government has confirmed that it is close to signing an agreement for the export of pig ears to China, where the anatomical organ is a sought-after delicacy.

In Sweden pig ears, along with tails and feet, fetch a low price and are often simply thrown away in the slaughter process. In China however the items are in high demand.

"The Chinese use these parts as exclusive details," said Sofia Jöngren at the Ministry for Rural Affairs to the political trade publication Riksdag & Departement.

The Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket) and National Food Administration (Livsmedelsverket) have been working on securing an export agreement for several years, the newspaper reports.

"We think an agreement is close. We feel that we have received positive signals," Jöngren said.

The agreement would be of significant value to Swedish farmers as only Germany and Denmark have managed to secured similar agreements among the EU countries.

But certain issues remain unresolved and Chinese authorities are expected to conduct an inspection of Swedish pork products production to ensure that hygiene standards are met.

In Chinese cuisine a pig's ear is often served as an appetizer or a side dish. The delicacy can be either boiled or stewed and is typically served thinly sliced and accompanied by soy sauce and spiced with chili paste.

TT/The Local/pvs (news@thelocal.se)

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15:36 May 23, 2011 by Swedesmith
Bon appetit
15:56 May 23, 2011 by rob582
I hope I'll still be able to buy pigs ears for my dog in ICA after this deal!
16:04 May 23, 2011 by millionmileman
You can't make a silk purse out of a pig's ear, but hopefully with being in a good mood after a gourmet meal, these diners will get in the mood to go Saab buying. They seem to have disposable income!
20:01 May 23, 2011 by stillwatersrd
Anything can be made palatable with soy sauce and chili paste. Anything.
06:59 May 24, 2011 by Da Goat
they will probably make silk purses out of them and re-export the goods back to sweden at a higher price!
10:17 May 24, 2011 by J. L. Belmar
How are they going to communicate in the Parliament? Fifty percent does not know what to say and the other fifty percent, do not know how to listen. With the sale of the ears, a communication chaos is coming into the parliament. We shall see what we shall see.
13:49 May 25, 2011 by Marc the Texan
Mmm-mmm I love me some pigs ear. I love how the article characterizes them as a delicacy. It's not a delicacy when there aren't aren't enough dogs to gnaw on these things fast enough to keep them from the landfill.
16:57 May 25, 2011 by Lukestar1991
You are all pathetic. Pigs are the most beautiful animals in the world.
22:24 May 26, 2011 by wenddiver
I had a girl friend who had a Minature Vietnamese Pot Belly Pig named Hillary (after the then first lady Hillary Clinton) that was great! It wore eye-glasses, a crenoline tu-tu and little ladies hats. It was super smart too. If you said get in the Jeep it did, If you said get in the truck it did nothing, but if you said get in the FORD truck it would get in the FORD Truck, She also knew the difference between the Mustang and Mercededs. When she died of a heart attack one day my dog was just heartbroken, he still goes and lies by were we burried her. She was a wonderful pet, loved by the whole neighborhood. She had tons of personality and never left sick family member side when they were ill. She was very fond of Hershey Kisses candy, Honey Bar-B-Que Potatoe Chips, and Bryers Ice Cream. On the 4th of July she used to run up and down with a small US Flag on a stick and never let it touch the Ground.
01:57 November 26, 2011 by biddi
Well, the Chinese will eat anything. Not surprising the obesity rate has doubled in Sweden in the last 2 decades. Pity they take the innocent animals with them.
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