Imports to resume on October 1
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com
As of October 1, Mexico will fully allow Canadian beef imports after suspending them when a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was detected in 2003.
Representatives from Canada’s beef and meat industries welcome the new import opportunities.
“The full normalization of trade in beef products with Mexico has been a high priority for the Canadian beef industry,” said Canadian Meat Council President Joe Reda in a release. “On behalf of beef packers and processors across Canada, I wish to thank Prime Minister Trudeau as well as Ministers MacAulay and Freeland and government officials for their persistence in bringing these discussions to a successful conclusion.”
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association is especially pleased about the October 1 import re-instatement date.
“The months of October and November are traditionally the time of year when Canadian beef farmers send most of their mature breeding cows to market,” CCA President Dan Darling said in a release. “Mexico has traditionally been an excellent market for Canadian beef. In addition to expanded access for OTM beef, we look forward to potential future opportunities that today’s announcement of fully restored access for Canada for all beef and beef products, regardless of the age of the cattle, will bring.”