February 26, 2010

Canada's pork to re-access China's market

 

Canada has secured the first certification agreement to allow pork imports to China, based on significant negotiations recognising World Organisation for Animal Health standards, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada said in a release Thursday (Feb 25).

The agreement was announced by Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz during his trade mission to the World Organisation for Animal Health, known as the OIE, and Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris.

"Access to the Chinese market is excellent news for Canadian pork producers and underlines the importance of recognizing international science-based standards," said Ritz.

In spring 2009, China banned pork imports from H1N1-affected countries. However, world health officials have repeatedly stressed that the H1N1 virus, initially known as swine flu, cannot be transmitted by eating pork.

In December, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was successful in getting this ban lifted during a mission to China. Since then, Canada has been working to develop supplementary certification requirements necessary to allow Chinese imports of Canadian pork to resume. China is an important market for Canadian pork valued at CAD45 million (US$43 million) in 2008.

Discussions on the Chinese importation of Canadian live swine are continuing and Canada is hopeful for early resolution to the issue, said the release.