(Yicai Global) July 28 -- China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) has put a temporary ban on beef imports from six Australian slaughterhouses over labeling discrepancies.

China has suspended the six processors' licenses to export beef and lamb to the country starting Monday as labels outside their beef product packages did not match their contents, China Securities Journal quoted Australian officials as saying.

Beef trade worth tens of millions of Australian dollars and possibly over USD80 million (AUD100 million) could be affected, said Steven Ciobo, Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment.

The six plants account for 50 percent of Australia's beef exports to China, said Ciobo. They were asked to correct labeling discrepancies within 45 days, he said.

The six slaughterhouses include two owned by Brazilian meat-packing giant JBS SA [BVMF:JBSS3] and one that is partly owned by China's New Hope Group Co., Australian officials said.