Israel pledges to move on Canadian beef imports

May 2, 2012 6:51 PM - 3 comments
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By: Staff

Canada has a commitment in hand from Israel to work with federal officials on granting market access for Canadian beef.

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz made the announcement Wednesday coming out of a meeting with Israel's Agriculture Minister Orit Noked.

Israeli officials pledged to work with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Canada's Market Access Secretariat to "move Canada's request forward."

Canada would be a new exporter of beef to Israel, whose total beef imports in 2010 from all countries were valued at about $370 million.

Canada's key agri-food exports to Israel at the moment are pulses, canola and beverages, with total Canadian agri-food exports in 2010 valued at about $30 million.

Total bilateral trade between the two countries has "more than doubled" since the signing of a Canada-Israel free trade agreement in 1997, reaching $1.4 billion in 2010. Of that trade, $63 million was in agricultural goods.
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Reader Comments

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Andy Muallim

I doubt if the meat industry will jump into this opportunity. Animal welfare in Canada is too rigid to allow this to happen. Even when the Canadian industry has demonstrated an excellent welfare program superior to any humane handling program in the world.

Posted May 25, 2012 12:50 PM

Bill Spenceley

In light of all the unconditional support our Prime Minister has given Israel, I would think this is likely to occur. However, I share the concern about the Kosher certified conditions if we export to that market. I believe that there have been serious problems with US based commercial operations using the special slaughtering methods required, and I'd want to know that the Canadian government would be regulating these facilities very strictly so that the animals are treated as humane as possible. I'm appalled at the horrific treatment and suffering these same animals endure in countries like Uruguay where much of the processing takes place today.

Posted May 3, 2012 07:02 PM

Louwell O.

This is a big market for canadian beef producers!!!
would this also mean that the beef we will supply Israel will be Kosher certified?

Posted May 3, 2012 06:05 PM
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