April 20, 2010

Canada to resume exports of breeding hogs to China

The Chinese market is important to Canada's pork and live swine exporters, with sales to China estimated at CAD50 million (US$49 million) annually in pork sales.

"This news is welcomed by Canada's pork industry," said Jurgen Preugschas, president of Canadian Pork Council (CPC). "The federal government has worked tirelessly to reopen this important market for our products. The development comes after many high-level interventions from Canadian government officials."

Serious misunderstandings around the safety of pork existed due to the initial inaccurate naming of H1N1 Influenza A as swine flu. Bans on imports of pork and swine from countries with human or animal cases of H1N1 do not comply with international standards, according to government officials.

The WHO, the FAO 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. Last year, Canadian pork was exported to more than 110 countries.