Japan is once again importing Canadian beef.
It has been 20 years since Japan stopped all imports of Canadian beef after mad cow disease was detected in Alberta cattle herds.
The federal government in Ottawa confirmed that Japan is now resuming imports of processed beef and beef patties from Canada.
Japan shut its borders to Canadian beef in 2003 when bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly referred to as “mad cow disease,” was found in Alberta.
The federal government said Japan will quickly become Canada's second-largest market for beef products with annual imports totaling more than $500 million.
About 40 countries closed their borders to Canadian beef products during the mad cow crisis, resulting in billions of dollars in losses for the domestic cattle industry.
