The governments of Serbia and Malaysia have reached agreements with Canada that are expected to boost access for Canadian exporters of sheep, goats and their genetics.
Trade can start “immediately” now that the federal government has reached new agreements on export certificates with the two countries, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said in a release Friday.
The agreement with Serbia allows for exports of sheep and goats, while the deal with Malaysia allows for exports of sheep and goat genetics. The two agreements, combined, are expected to be worth about $300,000 per year, the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association said in the federal release.
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“Our members can now actively pursue business opportunities knowing that the basic issue of market access has been resolved in these markets,” CLGA executive director Rick McRonald said in the same release.
Canadian government and industry representatives are “pursuing collaboration” with Malaysia to develop its domestic livestock sector, the government said, and this additional access will allow Canada to supply sheep and goat semen and embryos in support of these projects.
The two agreements were the result of “hard work and direct intervention” on the part of government officials, Ritz said.
