Canadian beef returns to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has partially resumed imports of Canadian beef following discussions between Canada's agriculture minister, Gerry Ritz, and Saudi Arabia’s minister of commerce and industry, Abdullah Zeinal Alireza, during Mr Ritz’s visit to Saudi Arabia this week. Saudi Arabia imposed the ban in 2003 after an outbreak of mad cow disease.
The lifting of the ban will initially be limited to boneless beef products from cows of less than 30 months of age.
"This agreement reopens the Saudi market to Canadian boneless beef exports," said Mr Ritz. He said that Canada and Saudi Arabia had also agreed to continue negotiations on resuming full Canadian beef exports to the Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia was Canada's sixth-largest market for beef exports prior to the ban.
The agreement with Saudi Arabia follows a similar deal on February 3 with the Jordan which, until recently, had also closed its doors to Canadian beef.
