Canadian producers are now able to export beef from animals over 30 months of age, as well as those under 30 months of age (UTM) and live cattle, to the UAE.
Announcing the decision, Canada’s Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said that he hoped that other countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – a regional trading block including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE – would follow suit in opening their doors to Canadian beef.
“The UAE is the first country in the GCC region to resume full access to our high-quality beef and this is a significant milestone for Canadian beef producers,” said Ritz. “We are hopeful that the UAE’s decision will encourage other countries in this region to grant full access to Canadian beef.”
The news has been welcomed by the Canadian beef industry, which exported beef from UTM cattle worth $1m to the UAE last year, making it Canada’s 19th-biggest beef export market.
“The UAE is the latest country to recognise the safety of Canadian beef and align its import requirements with the science-based standards of the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE),” said Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) president Martin Unrau.
“The UAE joins nearly 70 countries that have either fully or partially re-established access for Canadian beef since closing their borders in 2003. The CCA continues to work to expand market access and applauds the efforts of Ministers Ritz and Fast.”
International Trade Minister Ed Fast said the trade deal was another example of the Canadian government’s “broad and ambitious pro-trade plan”, adding that he hoped it would enable Canada to improve relations with the GCC region as a whole.