Good news for Canadian beef producers
Posted Jan 28, 2013 11:58 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Japan has announced as of February 1st, it will accept imports of beef from Canadian cows up to 30 months of age.
The previous standard was to ban imports of beef from animals older than 20 months.
Federal Agriculture minister Gerry Ritz says the decision could double yearly exports to Japan from $ 75 million to $150 million dollars.
Producers say higher demand should help push up prices for their cattle, on the downside Canadians might have to pay a little more for the beef on their plate.
Back in 2003, Japan along with a number of other countries banned imports of Canadian beef following the BSE controversy.
Exports have been rising slowly since then, Ritz says Canada has made tremendous strides when it comes to monitoring, protecting and promoting its food supply network.
Adding Ottawa realized several years ago, it needed to find more markets for its products besides our good neighbours to the south.
