WINNIPEG, Manitoba/OTTAWA—China has suspended pork imports from two Canadian companies, according to an interview with Canada’s agricultural minister and a Chinese customs document, marking the latest irritant in a widening diplomatic dispute.
Canadian Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said in an interview with Reuters on May 1 that she has not yet received an official notice from China of the permit suspensions, and would not identify the companies involved.
“We have to look into this,” she said by phone from Ottawa. “It might be only administrative. We might be able to deal with the situation easily. I can’t speculate on why the permits have been suspended.”
However, a document posted to the website of China’s General Administration of Customs dated April 30 and reviewed by Reuters on Thursday said that imports from Canadian meat producers Olymel LP and Drummond Export have been suspended.
“(China) will suspend imports of pork products shipped since April 30 by Canadian companies with codes 270A and 254,” the document said, without providing further details.
According to China’s Certification and Accreditation Administration, 270A and 254 are the codes for Olymel LP and Drummond Export. China’s government offices are closed for the Labor Day holiday until May 5.
Olymel LP spokesman Richard Vigneault confirmed on Wednesday that the company’s plant in Red Deer, Alberta, has been unlisted for exporting pork to China. He said he did not know the reason behind China’s action.
Drummond could not be immediately reached after business hours.
