A decade since foreign markets slammed shut to Canadian beef because of BSE in an Alberta cow, Japan has agreed to accept Canadian beef from cows younger than 30 months old
It’s previous age limit was beef from animals younger than 21 months.
The beef industry applauded the Jan. 28 announcement by agriculture minister Gerry Ritz, which takes effect Feb. 1.
The increased access is expected to double the value Canadian beef sales to Japan to as much as $150 million annually.
“Japan is an extremely important market and this expanded access will breathe new life into the Canadian beef cattle sector,” Canadian Cattlemen’s Association president Martin Unrau said in a CCA statement on the announcement.
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Along with the Canadian Meat Council, Unrau praised the federal Conservatives, including trade minister Ed Fast and Ritz, for pursuing the deal with Japan over the years.
“The removal of foreign barriers to Canadian agri-food exports is always a long and arduous undertaking that must be negotiated on a government-to-government basis,” CMC chair Ray Price said in a statement.
He also noted the role of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in the process.
Unrau said the 21-month rule was a “significant challenge” for the industry because calves are typically born in late winter, which reduced product available for sales between December and April as the previous year’s calves passed the 21-month age limit.
Ritz said the deal will help the Canadian industry be a year-round supplier to Japan.
“Our government welcomes this expanded access for Canadian beef into the valuable Japanese market,” he said.
“This agreement will put more top-quality Canadian beef on Japanese store shelves while strengthening our producers’ bottom lines and growing our overall economy.”
