April 2, 2004

Canada Confident Of Asia Beef Trade Resumption

The Canada Beef Export Federation is optimistic that Asian countries will resume imports of Canadian beef after precautions implemented following Canada's first mad cow disease case.
 
CBEF representatives met with over 2,000 clients and regulators in Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong and Japan, urging them to restore trade while at the same time restoring confidence in Canadian beef.
 
"I can honestly say there is a high level of confidence throughout these countries in the Canadian industry, in our beef products and in the genetic sector," said Ted Haney, president of the CBEF. "Because of this confidence we do not expect any down time in any market once trade has been re-established."
 
The CBEF remains confident that some Asian markets will re-open to Canadian beef within the next few months, Haney said, noting that a change in attitude has also taken place in Japan.
 
"Academics and editorial boards are now focusing on specified risk materials as the only way to protect human health, and that testing should be used only for its primary purpose to understand what the prevalence of the disease might be," he said.