OTTAWA — Canada needs to do three things to get beef into the European Union.
Demand must be built up, trade barriers over food safety must be overcome and 500,000 cattle must be raised in a manner capable of meeting that market’s ban on growth-promoting hormones.
Canada received a 50,000 tonne duty-free quota with the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement but it could take years before the full amount is filled.
In 2017, Canada shipped about 496 tonnes worth $15.58 per kilogram, while Europeans exported 2,106 tonnes worth $5.26 per kg to Canada.
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“We probably won’t start to see these numbers increasing until we get to the second quarter of 2018,” said John Masswohl of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.
Applying for quota, establishing security deposits and other administration takes time.
Canada ships limited amounts of high value product to Europe but exports are limited because more cattle that fit the requirements are needed. Also sanitation procedures in Canadian packing plants to remove bacteria from carcasses are not allowed in Europe.
Doug Sawyer, who ranches near Red Deer, travelled to Europe as part of a trade mission last fall.
“We want free trade. We don’t want to start getting into negative trade barrier disputes. We want a functional agreement,” he said at the CCA foreign trade meeting.
The first step is finding qualified cattle. Many cow-calf producers could probably meet the requirements now but they must be certified.
“For us as producers, it is vital to take advantage of this market,” said Sawyer.
There is specific protocol required for producers interested in selling to Europe.
One of the requirements is working with an EU certified veterinarian. There are not enough of these professionals available and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency does not release their names due to confidentiality rules.
There is also a perception among the European authorities that carcass washes and other interventions to get rid of bacteria indicate a problem with sanitation at the plants.
“We really need the right people to come here to see our plants,” said Sawyer.
“We can put all the scientific stuff in front of them that we want but it is their perception we are trying to change,” he said.
European food safety regulators have been invited to Canada to tour facilities and learn about the processes used here to remove pathogens.
Two chemicals are used in the Canadian industry to reduce bacteria on the carcass at the packing plants.
Work is underway to present the information about the efficacy of the products used, said Mark Klassen.
This research could take until the spring of 2019 and more money is needed to complete the work.
Processors may need help to meet those standards and there may be ways the government could help, said Alberta agriculture minister Oneil Carlier.
“We can supply more product to Europe but we need to be able to do that here that will meet those standards in Europe. We need to ramp that up a bit,” he said March 26.
The CCA has added information to it website on EU requirements and a list of certified veterinarians at www.cattle.ca/EU .
