The Meat Institute and the Canadian Meat Council (CMC) have jointly presented a series of recommendations to the Canada-US Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) aimed at improving trade alignment between the two nations.
In their collaborative submission, they highlighted regulatory discrepancies, redundancies, and inefficiencies that currently obstruct a cohesive North American meat and poultry market.
Julie Anna Potts, president and CEO of the Meat Institute, emphasized the importance of continuous industry and governmental collaboration in maintaining market integration. “Such cooperation is essential for the future growth of our industries and the communities we support,” she stated. “Yet, burdensome and repetitive regulations only impede the significant advancements that North American meat and poultry packers and processors have made in enhancing supply chain efficiency, food and worker safety, environmental protection, and sustainable development. These advancements are crucial for feeding the growing North American and global populations with innovative methods that produce more food with fewer resources.”
The Meat Institute and CMC proposed several regulatory reforms to facilitate smoother trade across North America. These included creating joint food safety risk assessments and fostering mutual recognition of food safety technology approvals. They also suggested CUSMA pilot projects for pre-screening and streamlined border sampling.
A notable concern for both organizations was the voluntary Product of USA label final rule, which mandates compliance from participating establishments by January 1, 2026.
Additionally, they urged the RCC to address several trade priorities affecting the meat industry, such as easing US live hog exports to Canada, harmonizing food safety technology approval processes, and lifting restrictions on veal imports from the United States.
Chris White, president and CEO of CMC, remarked, “Our industries produce some of the highest-quality, safest, and most nutritionally rich products globally, contributing significantly to food and economic security at all levels. By refining regulatory and customs procedures, eliminating non-science-based trade barriers, and enhancing cooperation on global issues like technology, sustainability, and foreign animal disease, the Canadian and US governments can foster greater resilience, cooperation, and growth within the North American meat industry.”
