January 3, 2013

Nicaragua to allow meat imports from Canada

From January.2, Canada's livestock producers will benefit from new export opportunities in the Americas, specifically Nicaragua, which has approved imports of beef and pork from the country, according to Canada's Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.

Effective immediately, Canadian meat producers can export beef to Nicaragua, with full access now restored after the closure of this market in 2003 due to bovine spongiform encephalopathy. And for the first time, market access conditions have been established for Canadian pork. Nicaragua imports of beef and pork in 2011 totaled US$1.6 million and more than US$17 million.

"We applaud the government of Nicaragua's science-based decision to reopen its market to Canadian beef and pork," Fast said.