Canadian beef moving to Japan

Mar 28, 2023

Key news for Canada's beef sector as Japan reopens its doors to Canadian processed beef for the first time in twenty years.

The federal government announced the move, noting this removes the last trade barrier that Japan put in place on Canadian beef after our discovery of BSE in May of 2003.

Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) President Nathan Phinney is pleased to see the full restoration of market access to Japan - Canada's second-largest export market for beef.

According to the CCA in 2022, the beef industry exported $518 million in beef and beef products, an increase of 18.4 per cent compared to 2021.

The value of beef in Japan has increased 15 per cent going from $6.74/kg in 2020 to $7.76/kg in 2022.

Ottawa says under CPTPP, Japan’s 38.5% tariff on beef imports will decrease to 23.35% by April 1, 2023, and will go down to 9% by 2033.

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Video: Advancing Swine Disease Traceability: USDA's No-Cost RFID Tag Program for Market Channels

On-demand webinar, hosted by the Meat Institute, experts from the USDA, National Pork Board (NPB) and Merck Animal Health introduced the no-cost 840 RFID tag program—a five-year initiative supported through African swine fever (ASF) preparedness efforts. Beginning in Fall 2025, eligible sow producers, exhibition swine owners and State Animal Health Officials can order USDA-funded RFID tags through Merck A2025-10_nimal Health.

NPB staff also highlighted an additional initiative, funded by USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services through NPB, that helps reduce the cost of transitioning to RFID tags across the swine industry and strengthens national traceability efforts.

Topics Covered:

•USDA’s RFID tag initiative background and current traceability practices

•How to access and order no-cost 840 RFID tags

•Equipment support for tag readers and panels

•Implementation timelines for market and cull sow channels How RFID improves ASF preparedness an