European trade deal could be $600M boost for Alberta beef producers

It still needs to be ratified by the European Parliament and the legislature of every European Unionmember state, but the newly signed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Europe and Canada could bewelcome news for Alberta beef producers.

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"Every market for beef that we can open up is a good market," saidDidsbury-area farmer Ernie Israelson.

He welcomes the deal and said Alberta farmers can make it work as long as the financial incentives are there.

"I think with a lot of producers it's a wait and see kind of situation," he said.

No growth hormones allowed

After being shut out of most of the European market for decades,Canada could be poised tosupply about one per cent of the EU's beef needs under the new pact.

It's not expected to transform the Canadian industry, but Rich Smith with the Alberta Beef Producers said it could mean $600 millionin revenue.

The deal requires that beef to be free of growth hormone additives, something Smith saidshouldn't pose a problem for most producers.

"There are already producers raising beef without the use of hormone implants, and certainly as the market for that type of beef grows, those producers will grow to meet that market," he said.

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