Japan to resume imports of Canadian processed beef, 20 years after mad cow disease

Japan is lifting the final of its restrictions towards Canadian beef, 20 years after BSE, typically referred to as mad cow illness, devastated this nation’s cattle trade.

The federal authorities says Japan is reopening its doorways to processed beef and beef patties from Canada.

The transfer places an finish to the market entry limitations Japan put in place in 2003, after a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow illness, was found in Alberta.

While Japan initially shut its border to all Canadian beef, it has been lifting restrictions in phases through the years, most lately with its 2019 choice to start accepting Canadian beef from cattle older than 30 months of age.

The federal authorities says Japan is now Canada’s second-largest marketplace for beef, with exports value $518 million in 2022.

Around 40 nations closed their borders to Canadian beef in the course of the peak of the 2003 BSE disaster, leading to billions of {dollars} in losses for the trade.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed March 27, 2023.