China allows minimal canola imports
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After recently slamming its doors on Canadian canola imports, China has agreed to allow a small number of Chinese ports to accept Canadian canola. The ban on Canadian canola came in mid-October, with China suddenly declaring that it would not accept any Canadian canola unless it was also accompanied by certification stating that it was free of the fungal disease, blackleg. Under the new concession, the ports that will permitted to accept canola will allow it even if it tests positive for blackleg.
Although it’s a start, the allowance is still very limited. The Canola Council of Canada estimates that the current restrictions will still block about seventy percent of Canada’s canola seed export to China. There are only three ports that will be permitted to accept the imports, one in northern China, and two in the south, and none of them located near the bulk of China’s processing plants in the centre of the country. As a point of comparison, before the restrictions, canola imports were accepted in nineteen ports.
Canada’s federal government and canola industry representatives are very upset about the limitations and the ramifications they could have on the entire country’s industry. Canada is already battling some dire trade restrictions, including massive restrictions against its flaxseed imports, due to a contamination by the genetically-modified “Triffid” gene strain, and even recent restrictions on canola exports into the United States, citing concerns over possible salmonella contamination. The federal ministry of agriculture and representatives from groups like the Canola Council of Canada and the Canadian Canola Growers Association are trying to work with Chinese officials to lift the restrictions, but so far only the agreement to open the three ports have resulted from talks.
Blackleg disease is a common fungal disease that affects canola seed and can reduce yield and harm the canola plant. It is commonly found on canola all around the world, including China. It is not considered to be a serious occurrence on crops being processed for meal.
China is one of the largest consumers of Canadian canola, although they also grow their own stock. Last year, China was Canada’s top buyer of canola at 2.87 tonnes, an approximate value of $1.3 billion.
