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Ag Critic Wants Answers On China's Meat Ban

The Conservatives are demanding answers from the Liberal Government about China's ban on Canadian meat.
 
Back in June, export certificates believed to be forged were found attached to a batch of Canadian pork.
 
Federal Ag Critic, Luc Berthold, says they don't know what actions the Government is taking, if any.
 
Along with Trade Critic, Dean Allison, Berthold sent a letter to the Federal Agriculture Minister and Trade Minister on Thursday, August 8, asking what he calls "two simple questions".
 
"Has the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) addressed the problem of counterfeit export certificates to the satisfaction of the Chinese Government? And how much money is this trade barrier with the Chinese Government costing Canada's pork and beef sectors?"
 
He says they're under the impression the Liberals are doing nothing to help solve this trade issue.
 
"If this is not a political crisis like they always say, it could be simple to fix the problem of this certificate," he said.
 
Berthold says they don't know why they've seen no progress on getting this market back, which is why the Government needs to provide answers.
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Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.