Canada’s Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has approved the entry of Paraguayan meat into the Canadian market, authorizing nine packing plants to begin shipments. Paraguayan President Santiago Peña celebrated this achievement on social media, praising the institutions and sectors involved.

Paraguay’s National Service of Quality and Animal Health (Senacsa) announced the list of approved plants and emphasized the stringent sanitary standards required. Senacsa President José Carlos Martin noted that meeting Canada’s requirements took nearly three and a half years of rigorous work and negotiations. He highlighted that the potential export volume to Canada could match that of the US market, with an expected 3,000 to 4,000 tons exported to the US this year. Martin also mentioned that 97% of beef exports were boneless meat, though small quantities of bone-in meat are now being shipped to Israel.

Martin emphasized that the success was part of a learning process and that future export volumes to Canada would depend on the private sector. Agriculture Minister Carlos Giménez assured that the export of Paraguayan meat would not lead to higher domestic retail prices. He explained that exporting meat for industrial use would increase the domestic meat supply, potentially lowering prices. Giménez hailed the approval as a “victory of the Government” and expressed hope that Paraguay’s development would open more international markets.