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Canada, Cuba resume beef
trade
Iowa
Farmer Today.
Monday, January 17, 2005.
Cuba will reopen its border to a wide
range of Canadian beef products, the Canadian
government announced Dec. 14.
Beef trade between the two countries was
halted since the discovery of bovine spongiform
encephalopathy (BSE) in Canada last year.
Before the ban, Cuba represented about
a $2.2 million market for Canadian beef
and beef products.
Cuba will immediately begin importing Canadian
beef and beef products from cattle of any
age, with a few exceptions including mechanically
separated meat, vertebral column, trimmings,
and tissues derived from the head. Cuba
will also accept pet food that does not
contain ruminant meat or bone meal.
Building on this agreement, officials from
both countries say they hope to agree shortly
on certification requirements that would
permit the importation of live Canadian
cattle as well.
"It's important for the US government
to seize this opportunity and reopen the
Cuban market for U.S. beef and beef products
as well," said American Meat Institute
Vice President of International Trade John
Reddington. "Since Canadian beef production
and safety standards are really mirror images
of those in the U.S., this should be an
easy opportunity to re-open this important
market for our producers and packers,"
he said.
Iowa Farmer
Today. Copyright 1995-2004
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