China, Philippines suspend beef imports from Canada after BSE case

China and the Philippines have suspended imports of Canadian beef due to Canada's detection in December of a cow infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a spokesperson for Canada's agriculture department said on Monday.

The moves follow an import suspension by South Korea last month,which is worth about $90 million per year to Canada's beef industry, after Canada reported its first BSE case in six years.

China is the world's biggest importer of beef and veal, and Canada's third-biggest export market, according to the Canadian Cattlemen's Association (CCA). It imports approximately $170 million of Canadian beef annually, while the Philippines annually importabout $13 million.

Dennis Laycraft, executive vice president at CCA, says there are a few countries that have asked for more information following the discovery of the case, but the majority of trading partners are not putting restrictions in place.

He says both markets are valuable, but he doesn't think the suspensions will be in place long.

"We're dealing with foreign regulators in different languages and different time zones. It all takes time, but we're anticipating this should be temporary and we should get back to full access very soon."

China took similar action against Brazil after that country confirmed BSE cases, before restoring imports in December after a three-month interruption.

BSE is a fatal disease of the nervous system in cattle.

Canada, the eighth largest beef and veal exporter, reported the BSE case in December in an 8-1/2-year-old beef cow in the province of Alberta.

Cow did not enter food chain, government says

Canada's latest case is atypical meaning it is a form of BSE that can occur naturally in older cattle as opposed to classical BSE, caused by an animal eating contaminated feed.

The three countries to suspend Canadian imports are seeking more information about the case, said Dennis Laycraft, the CCA's executive vice-president.

The disruption has not had any noticeable impact on Canadian prices, he said.

"We expect these [suspensions]to be short in duration," Laycraft said. "We've been able to manage through it."

The cow was euthanized on the farm and did not enter the food or animal feed chain, according to the Canadian government.

The first confirmed Canadian case of BSE, a classical form, was detected in 2003, resulting in some 40 export markets closing. Many have long since reopened.