Regulations Governing Red Meat Exports to Canada Simplified

U.S. companies exporting pork, beef and lamb to Canada now face simpler and clearer requirements, thanks to a joint initiative undertaken by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and its counterpart, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Cheyenne McEndaffer, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) director of export services, explains that the revised regulations will benefit both U.S. exporters and their customers north of the border. She notes that FSIS gathered input from USMEF and other industry associations during its review of the export requirements, which allowed problematic issues to be identified and addressed.

Red meat exports to Canada are off to a fast start in 2020. Through February, pork exports were 18% ahead of last year's pace at 37,364 metric tons, valued at $128.8 million (up 14%). Beef exports totaled 18,603 metric tons valued at $112.9 million – up 17% and 15%, respectively, from a year ago.

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The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry. It is funded by USDA; the beef, pork, lamb, corn and soybean checkoff programs, as well as its members representing nine industry sectors: beef/veal producing & feeding, pork producing & feeding, lamb producing & feeding, packing & processing, purveying & trading, oilseeds producing, feedgrains producing, farm organizations and supply & service organizations. USMEF complies with all equal opportunity, non-discrimination and affirmative action measures applicable to it by contract, government rule or regulation or as otherwise provided by law. USMEF is an equal opportunity employer and provider.