Cdn. genetics companies wait for export licenses

May 10, 2019

China hasn’t renewed the licenses for either Alta Genetics or Semex

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

China hasn’t renewed export licenses for two Canadian livestock genetics companies.

Alta Genetics in Balzac, Alta. and Semex in Guelph, Ont. are waiting for Chinese confirmation that they can resume exports to China.

China represents a significant market for Canadian livestock genetics.

Canada exported $3.1 million of beef cattle semen, $6.5 million of dairy semen and almost $800,000 of bovine embryos to China in 2017. China was the top market for beef semen and the fourth-largest market for both the dairy semen and bovine embryos, stats from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada show.

The federal government is aware of the situation, said Michael Latimer, executive director of the Canadian Beef Breeds Council.

"They know what's going on and are handling it the best they can," he told Farms.com. "It's a delicate situation and they can't give us all of the details but they are working on it."

Paperwork appears to be the cause of the renewal delay.

“As part of normal business, Customs China regularly conducts audit visits to our genetics livestock centers exporting to China, just as Canada conducts audits in other countries from whom we import agricultural goods,” an email from Agriculture Minister Bibeau’s office said, iPolitics reported.

A spokesperson from Semex told Farms.com the company couldn’t provide a comment on the matter.

Farms.com has reached out to Alta Genetics and the Canadian Beef Breeds Council for comment.

SteveOehlenschlager/iStock/Getty Images Plus photo

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