Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Chuck Strahl, and Minister of International Trade, David Emerson, have confirmed reports that boneless beef and beef products from Canada can once again be exported to Thailand now that terms of an export certificate have been finalised. This ends the ban imposed by the Thailand Department of Livestock Development in July 2003 after BSE was detected in Canada.

The Canadian beef industry has identified Thailand as a market for growth and Thai importers have expressed an interest in Canadian products.

"This is an important milestone in our efforts to restore market access for Canadian beef with all of our trading partners and is good news for the Canadian beef industry," said Mr Emerson.

Following a series of reciprocal visits and favourable responses to information exchanges, Thailand has agreed to allow the importation of Canadian beef and beef products from cattle less than thirty months old.