WTO Ruling on M-COOL Offers Potential Benefits to Canadian Genetics Suppliers

Jun 05, 2015

By Bruce Cochrane

The general manager of Fast Genetics says Canadian swine genetics suppliers have a lot to gain if the recent WTO ruling on U.S. Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling results in repeal of the legislation.

Last month the World Trade Organization upheld a series of rulings that Mandatory U.S. Country of Origin Labelling violates U.S. international trade obligations.

Yesterday Canada and Mexico announced they'll ask for a special WTO Dispute Settlement Body meeting June 17 at which time Canada will request authorization to impose over $3 billion in retaliatory measures against the U.S., while Mexico will seek authorization for over $653 million.

Shannon Meyers, the general manager of Fast Genetics, on hand for World Pork Expo, says for the most part we have a general consensus on both sides of the border that this should have happened a long time ago.

Shannon Meyers-Fast Genetics:
First and foremost, you talk to our customers and friends in both Canada and the U.S., and the general sense even here at World Pork Expo is that's a good decision and I think, as a whole, the industry felt that way.

Any time you get political impediments to doing free market business that's not a good thing so that's the first start.

I think we have, for the most part, a general consensus on both sides of the border, that this is where it ought to have fallen a long time ago.

Then specifically, from a genetics standpoint, I think it opens up other doors.
Any time a free market can trade freely, people don't have to think about where my market pig will be shipped, where my cull sow may be shipped?
Even though if it was a Canadian origin, does that matter?

Those things simply go away, so specifically from a genetics supplier standpoint, that's one more good thing.

Tick that box to say that's not an impediment to business so it'll be viewed as a whole positive but certainly genetics companies, particularly the Canadian genetics companies it'll be a positive.

Meyers says, any time a free market can trade freely, people won't have to think about where their market pigs or where their cull sow will have to be shipped.
He says those concerns will simply go away.

Source: Farmscape

Video: Season 6, Episode 10: Defining Resiliency and the Research Driving Swine Health Forward

Genetic research and new technologies continue to influence the future of swine health and production efficiency. In this episode, we explore how research and technology are being used to support stronger, more resilient pigs, while also improving overall production outcomes. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jenelle Dunkelberger, geneticist with Topigs Norsvin, to discuss both routine and emerging strategies for improving piglet, pig, and sow livability. She outlines two primary approaches to enhancing resiliency: gene editing and traditional selective breeding. Continuing the resiliency conversation, we also hear from Dr. Lucina Galina, director of technical research projects at the Pig Improvement Company. She shares insights into ongoing gene-editing work focused on PRRS, detailing the pathway to success, regulatory and practical considerations, and the questions that still remain as the technology evolves. Together, these conversations provide a closer look at how research, genetics and innovation are shaping the future of swine health and livability.