Reprinted with permission from Alberta Agriculture's AgriNews, November 19, 2007 edition.

A three-day Canadian beef festival was opened in Taipei to officially celebrate the lifting of an import ban of more than four years on Canadian beef following concern over mad cow disease. Following the Canadian beef festival, Canadian beef promotional events were held at Taipei retailers from October to November.

Taiwan re-opened its doors to Canadian boneless beef from cattle under 30 months of age in a partial lifting on June 23. On December 31, 2003 an import ban was placed on beef from Canada, the United States, Japan, Britain and several other European countries. In 2003, Taiwan was Canada's fifth-largest export market for beef. Overall, Taiwan is Canada's fourth-largest market in Asia for agriculture products. Prior to the ban, 95 per cent of Taiwan's imported Canadian beef came from Alberta.

The Canadian beef promotion was held from October 15 to 28 in co-operation with the Far Eastern City Super supermarket chain at two of its outlets. A second promotion was held from October 22 to November 5 in cooperation with the Taisugar supermarket chain at two of its outlets. The promotions were undertaken by the Canada Beef Export Federation, the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei, Alberta Taiwan Office, Travel Alberta and Alberta Beef Industries.

Members of the Canadian Beef Export Federation have forecast Canadian beef exports to Taiwan will grow to 10,000 tonnes with a value of $52 million by the year 2015.

Submitted by Rachel Luo