The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced that the Dominican Republic has approved the import of Canadian beef and meat products , including offal, from cattle of all ages.
According to a statement on its website, this decision restores access to an important Caribbean market for the first time since 2003, when the Dominican Republic imposed restrictions after the first case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Canada.
“The Dominican Republic is a major meat import market, with over $200 million in meat imports projected for 2025. Now that market access has been granted, Canadian processors can compete to supply Dominican consumers with high-quality Canadian beef,” said Kyle Larkin, president and CEO of the Canadian Meat Council.
According to reports, the reopening was made possible by an audit of the Canadian beef inspection system, conducted by the General Directorate of Medicines, Food and Health Products (DIGEMAPS) and the General Directorate of Livestock (DIGEGA).
“The audit confirmed the strength and reliability of Canadian food safety, inspection and animal health controls , which led Dominican authorities to eliminate the existing restrictions on Canadian beef,” they explained.
The CFIA stated that three Canadian beef processing plants have received authorization to export to the Dominican Republic.
In 2025, the Dominican Republic imported approximately $215 million worth of beef and meat products from various countries.
