Canada to start sending beef to Australia for 1st time in 20-plus years

Australia will soon be getting Canadian beef and beef products for the first time since 2003, according to a statement from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The CFIA announced that previous restrictions on imports from countries including Canada to Australia have been lifted.

“Regained access offers not only economic potential for Canadian farmers and processors but also contributes to global food security by providing more international consumers access to premium quality Canadian beef,” the CFIA statement says.

“By opening access to premium markets like Australia, Canadian producers can increase exports, generating new revenue streams that fuel investments, sustain jobs, and support local economies from coast to coast.”

The statement notes that in 2003, Australia imposed restrictions on Canadian beef, which was also the case for countries like the United States, due to the discovery of cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE, more commonly known as mad cow disease.