June 4, 2013

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced that Chile has lifted its ban on beef imports from Canada with immediate effect.

The announcement was during a state visit to Canada by Chilean President Sebastian Pinera. Chile and several other countries shut their doors to Canadian beef following the discovery of a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad-cow disease, in a cow from Alberta in 2003.

A number of those countries have since resumed importing Canadian beef after Canada tightened measures to guard against the disease and introduced new ones to protect human and animal health.

Harper, in a statement, described the Chilean move as "great news" for Canadian beef producers, who will have immediate unrestricted access to the South American nation's market.

The Canadian beef industry estimates the renewed access is worth up to CAD5 million (US$4.83 million) a year, with the potential to grow to CAD10 million (US$9.73 million) in three years, the statement said.

Chile imported CAD827.7 million (US$805 million) worth of beef products last year.