January 8, 2010

 

China continues to restrict canola imports from Canada

Canada is still shut out of moving canola seed to China, with no luck in overcoming the current restrictions or obtaining import permits.

 

Canada exported 2.8 million tonnes of canola to China in 2008-09, and the latter had been poised to be another large market in 2009-10.

 

However, Canadian canola has been shut out of China since new import requirements from the country went into effect on November 15 last year. China is now only allowing canola shipments infected with the common blackleg fungus into a few selected ports, far away from the country's own canola growing and processing areas.

 

Import permits are required to move canola into those ports, and none have been issued so far, according to Canada's export officials.

 

JoAnne Buth, president of the Canola Council of Canada, said the council would continue to ask the Canadian government to "push hard" for a solution with their Chinese counterparts.

 

Meanwhile, Buth added that Canada's canola export programme to other destinations remains strong, citing businesses to Japan, Mexico and Dubai.