Canadian fresh beef imports could soon be in Australia
Cattle Australia are welcoming an opportunity to have their say on a potential proposal to bring Canadian beef to Australia.
Canadian beef could soon be making its way to Australian shores, in a proposal under consideration by the federal Department of Agriculture.
Advocacy groups and producers say biosecurity must come first before there are any changes to the status quo.
Beef producers are urged to have their say about a plan to allow fresh beef imports from Canada into Australia, in a survey currently open until February 28.
The government’s current draft proposal recommends adding Canada to the list of approved importing countries, alongside New Zealand and the USA.
As it stands, Australian producers are currently exporting 307,751 tonnes of beef and veal to the east coast of Canada and 48,577 tonnes annually to Canada’s west coast.
Cattle Australia chief executive officer Dr Chris Parker said Cattle Australia supported science-based measures to ensure safe trade.
Dr Parker said the organisation welcomed the opportunity to have a say on potential imports and policies and that Cattle Australia would be making a submission to the government in response to the proposal.
“Cattle Australia urges the Australian Government to ensure any biosecurity or food safety threats are dealt with to guarantee Canadian beef is safe to import into Australia,” Dr Parker said.
Injemira Beef Genetics’ principal, Marc Greening of southern NSW, said free trade was a two-way street.
Mr Greening supported the plan; however, in saying that, he highlighted that his stance was only if quarantine protocols were strictly adhered to.
Tarcutta cattle producer Tony Rutter said his initial reaction was to say no; however, he stressed that if Australia is already sending meat to Canada, there must be a level trade playing field.
“I will always say, why bring meat in when we produce it here? And there also has to be an adequate assessment of any disease risks,” he said.
The information gathered in the survey will be used to finalise the proposal, with the final report to be published as an addendum to Australia’s published policy requirements for the importation of fresh beef.
The survey can be accessed from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/
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