ASUNCIÓN, PARAGUAY — Government officials confirmed earlier this week that Paraguayan beef is permitted for export to Canada following clearance from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

According to information from the Paraguayan government, nine meat plants in the country are authorized to ship beef products to Canada. CFIA confirmed to MEAT+POULTRY that it approved importation of pH matured, boneless beef meat from Paraguay. 

José Carlos Martin, president of the National Service of Quality and Animal Health (Senacsa), said the two governments worked on the deal for almost three-and-a-half years.

Martin added that the volume for importation could be very similar to the US market. He explained that the volume of exports will depend on the private sector.

For 2024, Paraguay could export 3,000 to 4,000 tons of meat to the Canadian market.

Paraguay President Santiago Pena posted about the deal on social media expressing his support. 

Officials from Paraguay also stated that the country’s objective is to increase other livestock exports from the pork and poultry sector.

Earlier this spring, the US Senate passed a Congressional Review Act (CRA) to suspend beef imports from Paraguay to the United States. Over the last few months senators asked the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to collect more data before resuming beef imports with the South American country.