Canada and China finalises agreement on live hogs exports

The Canadian government has finalised an agreement to re-open the Chinese live hog exports market for breeding stock; which is welcomed by the Canadian pork sector.

The Chinese market is important to Canada's pork and live swine exporters, with sales to China estimated at upwards of US$50 million annually in pork sales.

According to Jurgen Preugschas, President of Canadian Pork Council (CPC), some serious misunderstandings around the safety of pork existed due to the initial and unfortunate naming of AH1N1 as swine flu. Bans on imports of pork and swine from countries with human or animal cases of AH1N1 do not comply with international standards.

The World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) all agree no additional trade restriction should be imposed on pork that has passed veterinary inspection.

Canada is the world's third largest pork exporter and represents 20% of world pork trade. In 2009, Canadian pork was exported to over 110 countries.

Maintaining existing pork markets and opening up new market to pork is critical to the Canadian hog industry. The CPC continues to be a strong supporter of the Canadian government entering into a comprehensive free trade agreement with the EU and finalising bilateral free trade agreements with Colombia and Korea.

The CPC serves as the national voice for hog producers in Canada. A federation of nine provincial pork industry associations, our organization's purpose is to play a leadership role in achieving and maintaining a dynamic and prosperous Canadian pork sector.