May 27, 2008

Canada courts for China's approval on hog feed additive

Canada's hog industry is anticipating that China will approve Paylean, a hog feed additive, that increases feed efficiency. 

The product has gain approvals in countries including the US.

The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) said it could be later this year before China approves the product.  

Due to China's resistance on the feed supplement, Canadian pork exports to China are down sharply in the first two months of 2008 compared to a year earlier. 

The CPC said that several North American packing plants, including two Canadian plants, have been de-listed for exporting pork to China with traces of Paylean.   

Despite the decline in sales to China, Canadian exports of pork to Hong Kong have recently increased.
 

Jacques Pomerleau, executive director of Canada Pork International, said that if not for the Paylean ban, Canada would be exporting a lot more pork to China. 

Pomerleau pointed out that low pork supplies and rising middle class incomes in China are promising factors for future Canadian pork export sales once the additive issue is settled.