Canadian pork continues to flow to Australia, regardless of attempts to block imports by that country’s hog farmers.
A court battle over whether to ban most pork imports won’t end for months and “in the meantime, it’s business as usual,” said Jacques Pomerleau, executive director of Canada Pork International, or CPI.
Canadian pork sales to Australia slumped in May, when exporters were rattled by an Australian judge’s decision to suspend one pork import permit. Australian Pork Ltd. has asked for the import permit suspension to be expanded to cover most pork imports from Canada, the United States and the European Union because of a perceived disease threat from Post Weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome.
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The Australian government has appealed the judge’s ruling, and on Aug. 23 and 24 Australia’s federal court heard arguments from both sides. A decision by the federal court isn’t expected for two to six months and Pomerleau said, “one shouldn’t be surprised if it goes to the high court of Australia, whichever way it goes. It is very likely to keep going.”
The temporary export slump from Canada wasn’t caused by any Australian restrictions, but by exporters’ fears that Canadian pork would get caught on the open seas with no destination if Australia imposed an import ban.
Once it became clear that the Australian government was going to keep the borders open while the court process proceeded, Canadian exporters got back in the game.
“It’s good, if not even better than before,” said Pomerleau about continued Canadian pork sales.
Australia consumed 36,000 tonnes of Canadian pork in 2004, worth $116 million, and 2005 should substantially exceed that amount.
“Australia is our third largest (export) market in value,” said Pomerleau. “It is a very valuable market for us, so we can’t afford to lose it overnight.”
Pomerleau said CPI is watching the court battle closely, even if it can’t influence the result.
“This is primarily between APL and the Australian government,” said Pomerleau.
“We are, in a sense, a third party to the case, but it is on our backs.”
