Some United States packers west of the Great Lakes have stopped buying Canadian hogs because voluntary country of origin labeling comes into effect Jan. 1.
It's having a big impact on Manitoba hog producers, according to Lorne Voth, president of ProLine Pork Marketing.
The new labeling rules will restrict companies from adding “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA” labels to meat, poultry and egg products unless they come from animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States.
That means the rules impact both market-ready Canadian hogs and weaners.
Last year Canada exported 6.8 million hogs valued at $779 million to the United States.
Voth said packers in the Eastern U.S. are happy to buy Canadian hogs to fill their shackle space.
