Japan’s lifting of BSE-era restrictions on Alberta beef imposed 20 years ago opens the door fully to a top market.
“It’s awesome news,” said Alberta Beef Producers chair Brodie Haugan. “It’s the last BSE-era restrictions that were against Canadian beef and we’re happy to see them finally lifted.
“Japan has been a massive export market for us over the years.”
Last year, Alberta exported an estimated $518 million worth of beef to Japan. Since 2017, the value of beef exports has nearly tripled.
“Because of the increased relationship we have them through trade in general it’s been a very positive story for the beef industry,” said Haugan who ranches.
After BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopothy) was discovered in Alberta cattle in 2003, Japan restricted market access and dozens of other countries followed suit.
Restrictions were gradually lifted over the years and in 2021 Canada attained BSE-negligible risk status by the World Organization for Animal Health. Japan’s recent move means beef patties and other processed beef products can now be exported to Japan.
“We’re hoping to see an increase in exports of all products now into the market.”
Haugan acknowledged it has been a long road to get to this point.
“I don’t think anyone expected it to be this long. But again I guess everybody has learned a lot of lessons from it.
“We hope it never happens again, but at the same time I hope that we’re better prepared for the next thing that may come at the industry and the lessons learned can be implemented quicker the next time something happens.”
Richard Lorenz, has 125 cows and expects to have 165 calves this year on his Markerville-area farm and is glad to see the last restrictions lifted.
“Any time that some country lifts restrictions and is willing to import our products, such as beef or whatever, it’s a huge plus for us.
“It should mean positive things for the cattle industry, for sure,” he said.
“I guess it’s a reminder of what we went through when they closed the borders to us and the devastation it caused in the cattle industry.
“When they announced that, a person’s mind goes back to what we went through 20 years ago to try to keep surviving.”
For many farmers and ranchers, their off-farm jobs became more important as income from cattle dwindled.
“It was very expensive and a hardship to our small operation to keep surviving, that’s for sure. It wasn’t good days by any means.”
The crisis drove many out of the cattle business who would not return.
“From the BSE times … our industry has been on a steady decline in producers.”
The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) also applauded the announcement that full market access to Japan had been restored.
“Cattle producers are grateful for the re-opening for processed beef in Japan, our second-largest export market for beef,” said CCA president Nathan Phinney in a statement.
“Our industry will continue to support global food security by providing some of the most sustainable and highest quality beef in the world.”
CCA said it is pleased with Japan’s decision to “adhere to science-based trade with the removal of BSE-era restrictions” following Canada’s recognition as having BSE-negligible status.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the Government of Canada to further remove remaining BSE-era trade restrictions and expanding our trade capacity in the Indo-Pacific region.”