February 25, 2025

Canada close to getting approval for access into Australian chilled, frozen beef market

Canada's application to access Australia's market for chilled and frozen beef has moved a step closer to approval, clearing a key regulatory hurdle.

This month, Australia's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) released a final report following a long-running biosecurity review and consultation process. It found that biosecurity risks associated with importing fresh (chilled or frozen) beef and beef products from Canada to Australia can be effectively managed to meet Australia's Appropriate Level of Protection (ALOP).

Based on that finding, DAFF has recommended Canada be added to the list of countries that can apply to Australia for market access for fresh beef.

The next step in the process is for DAFF to complete Canada's Competent Authority Assessment, to determine if Canada's official animal health, export control, and supervision systems will ensure Australia's biosecurity and food safety requirements are met.

Sources familiar with the departmental process told Beef Central it is likely that some of that work has already been completed alongside the earlier review, suggesting a final determination on Canada's application for market access could be made relatively soon.

Canada's application also has implications for the United States' long running bid to regain access to Australia's market for fresh beef imports.

Australia suspended US beef import access in 2003 when BSE was discovered in the US herd.

The US has made several applications to regain full access to Australia's market in the past 22 years and is on the list of approved applicant countries which could allow export of beef from cattle born and raised in the US.

- Beef Central