Ottawa, Ont. (Rural Roots Canada) – Canadian beef producers have regained beef export access to the Dominican Republic, ending more than two decades of restrictions.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced Sept. 11 that the Dominican Republic has approved imports of Canadian beef and beef products, including offal, from cattle of all ages.
The market had been closed to Canadian beef since 2003, following Canada’s first reported case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE.
The reopening follows an audit of Canada’s beef inspection system by the Dominican Republic’s General Directorate of Medicines, Food and Health Products and General Directorate of Livestock. The audit found Canada’s food-safety, inspection and animal-health controls to be strong and reliable, leading Dominican authorities to lift the long-standing restrictions.
Three Canadian beef processing facilities have been approved to export to the Dominican Republic.
Read more: Food Security, Sustainability and Efficiency: Looking at the Bigger Picture in Beef Production
The market represents a significant opportunity for Canadian exporters. Canadian Meat Council president and CEO Kyle Larkin said the organization has advocated for access to the market since 2023. The council also hosted and funded the Dominican audit team during its visit to Canada.
“The Dominican Republic is a significant meat import market, with more than $200 million in beef imports in 2025,” Larkin said. “With market access now granted, Canadian processors can compete to supply Dominican consumers with high-quality Canadian beef.”
“This achievement is a testament to Canada’s world-class food safety standards and to what strong collaboration between government and industry can accomplish,” he added.
Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald said the reopening creates new opportunities for Canadian farmers and processors while supporting jobs across the country.
Canada currently holds a negligible-risk status for BSE.
