MEDICINE HAT — It’s been two years since China put restrictions on imports of Canadian beef products in the wake of a case of atypical BSE being discovered.
Despite South Korea and the Philippines lifting restrictions in relatively short order — the two only other countries that limited imports — China’s ban has remained despite atypical BSE not being linked to contaminated feed.
Chris White, Canadian Meat Council chief executive officer, said the topic comes up often in discussions with Chinese government officials but he suspects the lifting of Canada’s ban will follow similar timing to the ban placed on Irish beef products in 2020.
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That ban on was lifted in January but imposed again in November when Ireland reported another atypical BSE cow.
“I’ve been to China three times this year and in every conversation, we raise (the issue). They tell us there is a process underway for review,” said White. “We ask from an embassy and also an industry perspective if there are any pieces that you are still missing that could help you in terms of advancing your decision and they say no, they have all the information they need.”
White said the issue is also raised domestically with the Chinese ambassador to Canada.
“I know in the last month or so, we’ve had officials from Ag Canada go over to a trade show and they also had an opportunity to meet with Chinese officials. So, everybody is raising it,” said White.
In the same way that regulatory decisions can take a long time domestically, so too can they on the international level, said White.
While Canadian beef exports to China weren’t especially large prior to the December 2021 ban nor does domestic supply rely on the Asian nation to import, it’s still an important market to access, said White.
“In 2022, Canada had its second highest year of exports, only 10,000 tonnes short of a record,” he said. “What I’ve said to Chinese officials … is we understand you have a process, but you also have to understand that if you look at what we exported last year, we almost set a record and that was without China…. So, when you want us, don’t assume we’re going to be there.”
The rise of the Chinese middle-class and the corresponding desire for it to access quality meat proteins may also see internal demand exceed current supply to top beef imports, added White.
That’s a market Canadian beef producers would like a piece of, which is currently being served by Brazilian producers, who make up nearly half of Chinese imports.
“They would love to see it opened up again and would like to see if they can build potential in those markets,” said White.
The December 2021 case of atypical BSE was confirmed to be from an older Alberta cow.
The Philippines and South Korea lifted their suspension of Canadian beef in January 2022.
Canada received a negligible BSE risk country designation from the World Organization for Animal Health in May 2021.
