Canadian beef could soon return to China after four-year ban lifted

China lifted a ban on beef from Canadian processing plants that began in 2021 after an atypical BSE case, and Ottawa says plants previously approved to ship to China will be reauthorized once bilateral paperwork is completed.

China has lifted a ban on beef imports from Canadian processing plants that had been in place since 2021. The ban followed an atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) found on an Alberta farm. Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald announced the removal after a trip to Beijing with Prime Minister Mark Carney. Industry representatives said plants that were approved before the ban will be reauthorized once the two countries complete required paperwork. Key facts: - The ban on beef from Canadian processing plants began in 2021 after an atypical BSE case in Alberta. - Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald announced the ban’s removal following a Beijing trip with Prime Minister Mark Carney. - Russ Mallard, chair of the Canadian Meat Council, said plants previously approved to ship to China will be reauthorized pending completion of paperwork. - At its 2021 peak, Canada shipped close to $200 million worth of beef to China according to industry comments. - Canada exported about $7 billion in beef and cattle last year, with roughly $6 billion going to the United States. - The announcement followed what Carney described as a “landmark” trade deal that included tariff adjustments and access for some goods. Summary: The lifting of the ban restores an export route that previously handled near $200 million in annual shipments to China, though industry leaders expect a gradual return to prior volumes. Reauthorization of plants will proceed after the two countries finish bilateral paperwork. The United States remains the largest buyer of Canadian beef, accounting for the majority of exports last year.