December 30, 2022

 

China maintains ban on Canadian beef imports

China has maintained its ban on Canadian beef imports following an "atypical" bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) case detected in Canada over a year ago, even though other countries have resumed Canadian beef imports after the atypical BSE case, Western Standard reported.

 

Atypical BSE cases arise spontaneously in older cattle and can even occur in nations where not a single case of regular BSE has ever been reported.

 

As part of its BSE surveillance programme, Canada notified the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) of the BSE case on December 17, 2021.

 

The Philippines and South Korea were the other two markets that were closed to Canadian beef. Both nations have since resumed importing Canadian beef.

 

China still imports Canadian hides but will not grant Canadian beef and beef product certificates.

 

A Canadian Cattle Association spokesperson said there is no update on the importation of Canadian beef and the prerequisites to re-import into China. 

 

Japan in particular remained a strong export market for Canadian beef in other Asian nations.

 

Anne Wasko, marketing analyst for the Gateway Livestock Exchange, said Canadian beef exports are still doing well abroad as beef easily moved to other nations, demonstrating the significance of market diversification.

 

The Canadian government, according to the CCA spokesperson, is taking a low-key approach as the less profile it gets, the easier it is for trade to resume.

 

The US made up for China's lack of access to Canadian beef by increasing beef exports to China by 10 million pounds per month over their 2021 exports.

 

Over the past few years, Canada and China have repeatedly had trade disputes.

 

China lifted its lengthy embargo on the export of canola seed from a number of Canadian companies in May 2021. The embargo was initially imposed due to pest problems in some shipments.

 

Additionally in 2021, China banned the import of beef or pork for four months. The ban was prompted by China's discovery of "falsified veterinary health certificates" on Canadian pork exports.

 

-      Western Standard