Singapore Becomes First Country To Remove Remaining BSE Restrictions On Canadian Beef

Aug 27, 2021

Singapore has approved the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) certificate for the export of all beef, including beef offal, with no age restrictions.

This change in certificate makes Singapore the first country to remove the remaining Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) trade restrictions following the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) recognizing Canada as a BSE negligible risk country on May 27, 2021.

“While Singapore is not currently a large market for Canadian beef, CCA is pleased with the market access progress as diverse market access leads to trade resiliency and the highest overall value for Canadian farmers and ranchers,” said Bob Lowe, CCA President. “We are encouraged by Singapore’s change and hope others will follow soon.”

Previously, Singapore had approved all Canadian boneless beef and bone-in beef from animals under 30 months of age. Expanded types of beef and beef products from May 27, 2021 onwards will now be accepted for import into Singapore. Canadian beef exports to Singapore peaked in 2014 at 53.77 tonnes valued at $586,000. In 2019, exports were at 1.79 tonne and $31,000. No trade was reported in 2020 or the first half of 2021.

While most of Canada's trading partners had already approved all Canadian beef based on Canada's previous OIE BSE controlled risk status, several key trading partners such as China, Taiwan and South Korea have yet to approve all Canadian beef.

In partnership with the Government of Canada, CCA has been working to have all remaining BSE restrictions on Canadian beef exports removed.

Additionally, CCA is working to align the removal of Specified Risk Material (SRM) Removal with the U.S.

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