USMEF, Meat Institute working to remove obstacles for exports to Canada
Beef exports up 8% in value; pork exports below last year’s pace in volume.
Canada is a top five destination for both U.S. beef and pork exports, but U.S. shipments are sometimes slowed by regulatory issues. The transition to the Public Health Information System or PHIS, was intended to simplify this process, but as U.S. Meat Export Federation Director of Export Services Courtney Heller explains, some obstacles still remain.
“Canada is one of our largest trading partners for both beef and pork. We value our relationship with that market extensively. Over the last couple of years, we’ve started to incorporate the PHIS export component, and the purpose was to improve and really shorten some of those interactions at the border to clear product more quickly in both directions,” Heller says.
“So PHIS was intended to reduce paperwork and human error. And when a system goes online, all of the paperwork like letterhead, certificates or testing requirements, go into that PHIS system, which allows the inspectors both on the USDA side and in Canada to see, sign and process more quickly. We’re finding that our electronic system is requiring paperwork and that was not the intention. So we’re working with Canada to streamline the documentation process.”
Heller adds that because the food safety and inspection systems in the U.S. and Canada are so similar, red meat trade between the two countries could be further streamlined. USMEF is working with industry partners such as the Meat Institute to develop recommendations that could simplify regulatory processes and help bolster U.S. exports to Canada.
“We have found that some of our members have stopped shipping to Canada because of stoppages at the border. There’s an effort underway now that was started by the Meat Institute in conjunction with their Canadian and American members to really address some of the slowdowns at the border that could be improved upon by reducing some of the inspection requirements or testing requirements,” Heller says. “Our countries have virtually equivalent food safety systems, so some of our inspection processes could really be eased by just working together.”
Last year U.S. pork exports to Canada totaled nearly 220,000 metric tons, making Canada the fourth largest market for U.S. pork, with export value topping $875 million. Through May of this year, pork exports are slightly below last year’s pace in volume (85,500 mt) and steady in value ($338 million).
U.S. beef exports to Canada totaled 103,500 metric tons in 2023, ranking fifth among U.S. export markets, with export value also totaling about $875 million. Through May of this year, beef exports are up 8% in value ($353 million) despite a 5% decline in volume (just under 40,000 metric tons).