The Canada Beef Export Federation Annual "Canada Beef and Veal Seminar" in Tokyo

The Canada Beef Export Federation held its annual "Canada Beef and Veal Seminar" in Tokyo with 270 guests in attendance. In addition to a press conference and reception, the seminar featured speakers from the Federation, the Canadian and Alberta governments, and the private sector. An ambitious Japan sales target of "44,000 tonnes per year by 2015" was announced. The goals seems unreasonable considering that less than 3,000 tonnes was exported to Japan in 2006, but Federation President Ted Haney is confident that Canada’s efforts in quality, traceability, and safety combined with a relaxation of Japan’s import restrictions will make a big difference. The rise of the Canadian dollar over the past two years has recently depressed exports.

Information summarized from: Shokuhin Sangyo Shimbun, Nihon Shokuhin Shimbun, Shokuhin Sangyo Shimbun courtesy of Canadian Embassy Translation Services, Tokyo