Gerry Ritz, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and David Emerson, Canadian Minister of International Trade, announced both Barbados and Mexico will now allow the import of breeding stock in addition to Canada’s current access for beef and beef products to these markets.

?This is welcome news for Canadian exporters and an important step in restoring market access with all of our trading partners,? said Minister Ritz. ?I am pleased that Mexico has lived up to the commitment they made to me during my mission to Mexico in January of this year to expand trade to include breeding stock. This is in keeping with international standards that protect human and animal health.?

?This government is pleased that Mexico and Barbados have expanded our market access to include breeding stock,? said Minister Emerson. ?This is excellent news for our beef industry and another important step in our ongoing efforts to restore full market access with all of our trading partners.?

Mexico and Barbados join a growing number of countries that have resumed trade in beef and beef products as well as genetics and live cattle trade with Canada.

Canadian access for Barbados includes the full range of Canadian beef products and has also been expanded to include breeding cattle, including dairy heifers. Products now approved for export to Mexico include beef derived from animals under 30 months of age and dairy heifers.