News release
SOUTH KOREAN TRADE MISSION DISCUSSIONS CENTRE ON STEPS FORWARD IN OPENING OF KOREAN MARKET TO CANADIAN BEEF
SEOUL, South Korea, Jan. 12, 2004 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Bob Speller today met with South Korean Agriculture and Forestry Minister Huh Sang-man to discuss the steps necessary to re-establish trade in Canadian beef products.
Mr. Speller discussed the North American BSE situation at length with South Korean officials telling them that Canadian beef is safe while adding that the Government of Canada's prime objective is to ensure the safety of consumers in Canada and around the world.
The two ministers discussed the measures that Canada has already put in place to protect human health as well as the $92.1 million in new measures announced last week aimed at addressing the future risk of BSE. Mr. Speller reminded Minister Huh that the available scientific evidence, including a number of international risk assessments, demonstrates that the risk of BSE in the North American cattle herd is very low.
The minister was accompanied by several senior industry officials.
"I applaud the meeting of leaders and urge them to build on the science to move toward policy solutions," said Ben Thorlakson, Chairman of the Canada Beef Export Federation (CBEF) and member of the official Canadian delegation. "This step would go a long way toward re-establishing trade in Canadian beef in Korea and throughout Asia," he added.
"We must now build on this productive series of meetings with the provision of new technical resources, located in Asia, until normalization of trade can be realized," said Ted Haney, CBEF President and delegation member.
Mr. Speller and Minister Huh agreed to continue technical discussions and information exchange aimed at addressing any concerns South Korea may have about the safety of Canadian beef.
"Our discussions were frank and to the point and were, I feel, very productive," said Mr. Speller. "The fact that we have agreed to continue our technical discussions and information sharing is a positive step for the Canadian beef industry."
Mr. Speller urged the South Korean government to work cooperatively with Canada at the OIE in an effort to develop new standards and regulations that reflect new scientific knowledge about BSE.
Mr. Speller's trade mission, which also includes industry stakeholders from the Canadian Meat Council and the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, leaves Seoul today for meetings Tuesday in Japan with a number of Japanese government officials including Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yoshiyuki Kamei. Later this week, Mr. Speller will hold meetings in Washington with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman and Mexican Agriculture Secretary Javier Usabiaga.
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For more information, media may contact:
| Vern Greenshields Communications Adviser Minister Speller's Office Ottawa (613) 759-1020 |
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Media Relations Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Ottawa (613) 759-7972 |
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