Canada First Country to Export Beef to China Since BSE

OTTAWA — On June 24, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced that Canada had secured a breakthrough agreement with China to allow staged market access for beef and tallow, becoming the first country to resume trade with China following a case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in 2003. As a key indication of the strong trade relationship based on principles of sound science, China allowed a special shipment of Canadian beef into both Shanghai and Bejing for Canada Day celebrations.

This marks the first time in almost a decade that Canadian beef has been available in China. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz hosted a beef barbecue in celebration of Canada and China’s strong trade relationship.

“ Canada is the first BSE-affected country to receive any beef access to China in almost a decade,” stated Mr. Lemieux. “This landmark agreement will help ensure a bright future for the Canadian beef industry by getting our safe, high quality beef back on Chinese store shelves.” 

“Canadian farmers produce the best food in the world, and our Government is working tirelessly to promote their products both at home and abroad,” said Mr. Lemieux.

Canada’s special access for Canada Day helped to promote and boost demand for safe, high quality Canadian beef. In addition to beef, Minister Ritz and Canadian Head Chef Wayne Murphy, Executive Chef at the Canada Pavilion and Chef Professor and Coordinator of the Culinary Arts Program at La Cité collégiale, also highlighted Canada’s world-class pork and canola products.  

“Thanks to the ongoing hard work and commitment of Agriculture Minister Ritz, the trade barriers are coming down for Canadian beef in China. The breakthrough agreement between Canada and China allowing market access for Canadian beef in a staged process will soon see consumers across China enjoying safe, high quality Canadian beef,” said Mr. Lemieux.

Canadian Cattlemen’s Association President Travis Toews, who was also on hand to serve beef at the event stated, “Canadian cattle producers work hard to produce the high-quality and safe beef like that being enjoyed at the Shanghai Expo 2010. We take a lot of pride in saying we believe our beef is the best in the world and we look forward to sharing more of it with China as we work toward the restoration of full access under the new beef trade agreement with China.”

Minister Ritz is in China for the third time in less than a year to further strengthen the Canada-China agricultural trade relationship and push for the removal of trade restrictions on Canadian canola, and to commemorate 50 years of agricultural cooperation between the two countries.