Japan removes 20-year restrictions on Canadian processed beef

Japan, like many other countries, restricted imports of Canadian beef after a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy was discovered in Alberta in 2003.

Importing countries have gradually lifted restrictions, and Japan's latest move is lifting the remaining restrictions on processed Canadian beef, a government spokesman said. Japan, Canada's second-largest beef and veal EXPORT market as of January, lifted restrictions on March 22, according to Statistics CANADA, a spokesman said. Last year, Japan bought Canadian beef and beef products worth 518 million Canadian dollars ($379.29 million).

The lifting of restrictions by Japan is due to the fact that from April 1 it is planned to reduce tariffs on beef imports in accordance with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, to which Canada is a party.