Statement by the Government of Canada on the resumption of wheat sales to Japan

OTTAWA, July 20, 2018 /CNW/ - The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and the Honourable Jim Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification, issued the following statement today on the announcement by Japan's agricultural ministry that it had lifted the temporary suspension of trade in Canadian wheat:

"The Government of Canada welcomes the decision by Japan's Ministry of Agriculture to lift the temporary suspension on imports of Canadian wheat, following its own thorough scientific testing of Canadian wheat shipments.

The decision by Japan's Ministry of Agriculture and the already-announced decision by South Korea on June 26, 2018 to resume shipments reaffirms the excellent quality and consistency of Canadian wheat.

This marks an end to all international trade actions arising from Canada's announcement of an isolated discovery of unauthorized genetically modified wheat in southern Alberta on June 14, 2018.

Based on extensive scientific testing at that time, the Government of Canada concluded that this unauthorized wheat is not present in the food or animal feed system, or anywhere other than the isolated site where it was discovered. Officials worked quickly and collaboratively with Japanese authorities to provide the necessary information to secure this positive outcome.

Canada is a safe and reliable global supplier of wheat. Canadian wheat production in 2017 was 30 million tonnes across an area of 22 million acres, making it one of the largest field crops in Canada. Canadian exports of wheat globally are valued at approximately $6.6 billion annually."

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SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada