Hog farmers and pork processors are hoping that China hasn’t added Canadian pork to its trade retaliation targets.
The Olymel plant in Red Deer is one of two plants known to have had their export licenses for China temporarily suspended for apparent labelling problems.
“Olymel management is assessing the situation with the appropriate authorities,” said Olymel spokesperson Richard Vigneault. Olymel’s other plants are not affected.
The other plant is operated by a different company in Drummondville, Que.
Both license suspensions were based upon claims of labelling issues, said Gary Stordy of the Canadian Pork Council.
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“There was some product that arrived, there was some mislabelling on it, and that resulted in the temporary suspension,” said Stordy.
Two weeks ago another Canadian pork shipment was affected by a labelling complaint, but no Canadian plant was delisted as an approved supplier.
China has not said that this interruption in some Canadian pork trade has anything to do with its political anger over Canada’s arrest of a Chinese executive, Meng Wanzhou, on an American extradition warrant in December.
Indeed, China has not acknowledged that its actions against Canadian canola, which have been blocked from the country, have anything to do with the dispute.
Contact ed.white@producer.com
