Food Safety Issues Harm Canadian Exports

by Helena Bottemiller
Oct 29, 2009 Food Safety News

Canadian farmers and industry officials are feeling even more pressure
from global trade restrictions over food safety concerns sometimes
viewed as trade barriers. 



Canadian raw-material products, from cattle feed to vegetable oil to hot
dogs, have recently been shut out of several countries, a reality that
is causing prices to dip.



China, which accounts for a third of Canada's canola seed exports,
recently announced that it would not accept Canadian canola with
blackleg disease--a fungus that can cause yield loss but does not
present a food safety risk.



The US has imposed shipping restrictions on certain canola-crushing
plants as well, but over salmonella concerns. Two plants owned by
Cargill are under shipping restrictions over concerns with salmonella in
canola meal, which is fed to cattle. 



According to an international wire service, some question the legitimacy
of the restriction, "Some believe the Obama administration is scoring
political points based on food-illness fears. Even so, U.S. food safety
officials maintain that animal feeds can act as vehicles for
transmitting harmful bacteria to humans and animals."



These export woes are in addition to Canada's fierce opposition to U.S.
country of origin (COOL) labeling
<http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2009/10/canada-takes-usas-cool-to-wto-nex
t-week/> , which Canadian cattle and hog exporters think unfairly harms
their industry.



Yesterday the US blocked Canada's request for a World Trade Organization
(WTO) panel to review the dispute. Under WTO rules the US cannot block
the request again. The dispute meeting will likely convene next month.