Taiwan has lifted its four-year ban on Canadian boneless beef from cattle under 30 months of age. All federally inspected Canadian beef processing plants are now eligible to export to Taiwan.

"We are very pleased with this announcement," says Hugh Lynch-Staunton, Canadian Cattlemen's Association (CCA) president. "It represents one more step towards the resumption of full trade and we are gratified with Taiwan's assessment that Canadian beef presents no risk to its consumers. While this is good news, we expect the Canadian government to continue to request access for all beef products derived from Canadian cattle of all ages according to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)'s international standards. It is these standards that we expect all trade in beef and cattle to be governed by."

In the year prior to May 2003, Taiwan was Canada's fifth largest destination for beef exports with 8,000 tonnes (valued at $42 million) being shipped in 2002. It is an important market for middle meats such as strip loin, rib eye, etc. and has historically offered the highest value per kilogram of beef exported.

Source: PonokaNews