August 17, 2009

Panama welcomes Canadian beef and pork

Canadian beef and pork exports will again enter Panama for first time since 2003 after the latter lifted the ban for Canadian meat.

Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, and Federal Agriculture Minister, Gerry Ritz, said Panama has approved Canada's meat inspection system and lifted the ban on Canadian beef imposed on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

Approving Canada's meat inspection system and granting of access to Canada is important because it gives exporters the ability to ship beef and pork from all federally-registered Canadian meat establishments, said Ritz.

Canada and Panama concluded negotiations on a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement covering goods, services and investment, among other areas. Parallel accords on labour cooperation and the environment were also negotiated.