Canadian canaryseed shipments that have been stalled at the Mexican border will be allowed to enter under an agreement announced Tuesday by federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz.
Speaking at the Canadian Special Crops Association annual meeting in Saskatoon, Ritz said he had spoken with his counterpart in Mexico, who had agreed to a 60-day delay in implementing new restrictions on wild buckwheat in Canadian canaryseed.
The new agreement gives the two countries until mid-August to work out a solution to re-establish trade.
On June 23, Mexico shut its border to Canadian canaryseed containing even one seed on a list of common Canadian weeds, including wild buckwheat, cow cockle and stinkweed. Mexico considers the weeds foreign and noxious.
Mexico is the traditional destination for 25 percent of Canadian canaryseed exports.
