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RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS UNDER THE CANADA-EU VETERINARY AGREEMENT MEAN NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR CANADIAN EXPORTERS

Ottawa, April 5, 2005 – Canada and the European Union (EU) have agreed to mutually recognize the equivalence of domestic food safety measures for pork and animal health measures for bovine semen. Overall, this will improve the ability of Canadian establishments to become eligible to export pork to the EU. It is expected that this development will lead to new opportunities for Canadian exporters. These new measures take effect today.

These achievements have been made under the Canada-EU Veterinary Agreement that was signed in 1998. The Agreement is aimed at recognizing the equivalence of Canadian and EU inspection and certification requirements.

"This marks the first time that an equivalency agreement has been reached with the EU," said Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Andy Mitchell. "It demonstrates the value of the Agreement and is another example of the international recognition of Canada's food safety and animal health systems."

Based on the recognition of equivalence, simplified export certification has also been established, which can be used for exports of both pork and bovine semen from Canada and the EU. It has been agreed that similar equivalency exercises for dairy and fishery products will also be initiated.

“This is a good example of how cooperation between Canadian and EU regulators yields benefits for Canadian industry,” said International Trade Minister Jim Peterson.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the EU’s Health and Consumer Protection Directorate (SANCO), which are responsible for the implementation and administration of the Canada-EU Veterinary Agreement, have also concluded an arrangement on information sharing. This arrangement will facilitate the exchange of necessary information, which will help both agencies to respond in situations where there is a risk to human, animal or plant health.

The Agreement also serves as the basis for both Canada and the EU to regionalize import restrictions during a disease outbreak. For example, during British Columbia’s avian influenza outbreak in 2004, the EU limited their import restrictions to only poultry and poultry products from the affected area, while other Canadian poultry imports could still access the EU market. In a similar approach, Canada recognizes the EU’s regionalization process for swine diseases for 15 Member States. The CFIA is also evaluating the extension of this approach to the new Member States that joined the EU on May 1, 2004.

The momentum generated by these achievements should encourage new initiatives under the Canada-EU Veterinary Agreement, which could lead to further benefits for Canadian exporters.

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