The Canadian Meat Council and the Washington-based Meat Institute have jointly asked their federal governments to improve regulations that hamper trade.
“By streamlining regulatory and customs procedures, eliminating non-science-based trade barriers, and enhancing collaboration on global issues such as technology, sustainability, and foreign animal disease, the Canadian and U.S. governments can promote greater resilience, cooperation, and growth within the North American meat industry,” said Chris White, president of the Canadian Meat Council.
They asked for joint food safety risk assessments, mutual recognition of food safety technology approvals, enhanced sampling transparency and sampling plans that reduce product destruction at the border.
The two groups outlined their requests in a letter to the U.S.-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council.
They called for pilot projects within the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA trade pact) such as instituting pre-screening and streamlining sampling across borders.
They also say food waste could be reduced by ending the destruction of shipments deemed unacceptable for minor infractions, such as labeling.
