Canadian beef gains duty-free access to EU

Canada’s beef producers and exporters now have duty-free access to the European Union (EU) market. The arrangement provides access to a 20,000-tonne quota for hormone-free beef exports to the European market, estimated to be worth $10 million annually.

“Industry and government have been working very hard to get increased access to the EU market,” said Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Gerry Ritz in making the announcement. “The access to this quota was a priority for our industry and therefore it was a priority for this government. This is a tremendous deal that will help Canadian producers make their living from the marketplace.”

The government has also finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the European Commission, which works toward resolving the long-standing WTO dispute between Canada and the EU on beef hormones. The understanding will eventually add 3,200 tonnes to the current quota, and provides compensation for the EU’s ban on beef from cattle that have been given growth hormones.