Japan eases curbs on imports of beef
Canadian exports likely to rise to $150M a year
Alberta’s beef producers are casting eager eyes on the lucrative Japanese market, following a decision by that country’s government to ease import restrictions for Canadian beef.
Ten years after raising barriers in response to Canada’s BSE crisis, Japan’s Foreign Ministry announced Monday it will allow imports of beef from cows up to 30 months old, effective Feb. 1. The previous standard was to ban imports of beef from animals older than 21 months.
“This has been so long in coming,” said Doug Sawyer, chair of the Alberta Beef Producers. “We always felt there was no scientific reason for the under-21 (age restriction), so to get this decision based on science is very important for our industry.”
The Canadian government estimates the potential market value of beef exports to Japan will now rise to between $140 million and $150 million a year — about double what they have been under the tighter rules. Japan imposed a full ban on Canadian beef imports in 2003 following the discovery of BSE in a few animals, but relaxed the restriction in 2005 to allow for animals younger than 21 months. Prior to the BSE crisis, in 2001, Canadian beef exports were valued at a record $171 million.
“Japan is still one of the most lucrative markets for us in Asia,” said Bryan Walton, CEO of the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association.
“This should improve the bottom line for us. We’re looking forward to having greater access to that market.”
The Canadian Meat Council — which represents the country’s packing/processing industry — also welcomed Monday’s announcement.
Executive director Jim Laws said Japanese customers are willing to pay a premium to have their meat cut and packaged in very specific ways. And Asian tastes and cooking styles mean that certain cuts or parts of the animal that aren’t valued in North America are actually very popular in Japan.
“So we get higher value for some of our products that otherwise might go into hamburger trim products,” Law said.
Japan is currently the fourth largest market for Canadian beef, after the U.S., Mexico, and Hong Kong-Macau. But Law said he expects that with the relaxed trade restrictions, the Canadian beef industry will be looking to make the kind of inroads the pork industry has already made into the market. Almost a billion dollars’ worth of Canadian pork was sold in Japan last year, and Japan is already Canada’s second largest export market for pork.
Japan’s Health Ministry approved the new beef import rules — which also apply to product from the United States, France and Netherlands — following public hearings.
Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz called the deal “tremendous news.” “This achievement is a result of a lot of hard work on the part of the government working shoulder to shoulder with industry both here in Canada and through our embassy in Japan,” Ritz said.
“As part of our government’s plan to create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity for all Canadians by opening new markets, we have been working closely with Japan to expand access for our exporters,” said Trade Minister Ed Fast.
“Today’s announcement is proof that these efforts are getting results, and we look forward to taking our trading relationship with Japan to the next level through an Economic Partnership Agreement which would provide additional export opportunities for Canadian businesses.”
Japan’s new beef import rules take effect February 1.