China removed a ban on imports of some U.S. beef products, opening up the trade for the first time since 2003. The ban on imports of U.S. bone-in beef and boneless beef for livestock under 30 months has been removed, with conditions, effective immediately, according to a statement from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. Imports must follow requirements under China’s traceability, inspection and quarantine systems, it said. China halted imports of U.S. beef in 2003 after a case of mad cow disease was found in Washington state. The country is the world’s second-biggest beef buyer after rapid growth over the past decade created the world’s second-largest economy and an expanding middle class that can afford more protein in their diets. China is already the world’s biggest pork consumer. Beef and veal imports will jump 24 percent this year to 825,000 metric tons, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. That’s double the purchases in 2013. China’s consumption will increase 3.4 percent to 7.59 million tons, exceeding production of 6.79 million tons, the data show. Surging demand had been a boon to Australian producers after a drought increased cattle slaughter and supply available for export. The country has recently been losing market share to Brazil, which was allowed to resume shipments to China last year.