The Canola Council of Canada (CCC) applauded the news that China is extending access for canola seed imports for one year under the current restrictions.
“This is very good news and it shows that China values its canola trade relationship with Canada,” said CCC president JoAnne Buth. “The extension will allow Canadian farmers some access to China for the 2010 crop. This development is the result of persistent efforts in China by the Government of Canada and our industry.”
In November, 2009, China imposed a quarantine order to block the importation of Canadian canola seed testing positive for the presence of blackleg, a fungal disease which can reduce canola yields.
For the marketing of the 2009 Canadian canola crop, China implemented a transition year during which Canadian canola testing positive for blackleg can only be delivered to a limited number of facilities. These locations are in areas where Chinese rapeseed is not grown and is meant to reduce the chances of blackleg being transferred to the domestic rapeseed crop. The one-year extension means deliveries can continue to these ports.
Buth thanked Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz for the federal government’s campaign of constantly raising the issue with China at every opportunity.
“While the extension keeps the door slightly open to China, it doesn’t open it any wider,” she said. “We still have only very limited access, so we will continue to work with China to address their blackleg concerns and to restore full trade.”
Canada is undertaking cooperative studies with China to analyze ways to mitigate the transfer of blackleg to China’s crop, and to undertake dairy feed trials to increase the value of canola meal in China.
China was Canada’s largest canola seed market in 2008-09 at 2.8 million tonnes. Under current restrictions, Canada’s access is limited to 1.4 to 1.5 million tonnes annually.
As of April 2010, Canada had shipped 1.62 million tonnes in 2009-10, just over 1 million tonnes before November 15, 2009.
