China's removal of the export permit of a major Canadian canola company followed the discovery of "hazardous pests" in shipments, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday (Mar 6) in a move that has stoked diplomatic tensions.
Canada's largest agricultural handler, Winnipeg-based Richardson International, had its licence to ship canola to China revoked on Mar 1, which risks leaving Canadian farmers with a glut on their hands.
"Chinese customs recently detected dangerous pests in canola seeds imported from Canada," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular briefing.
"Canola seeds exported from one company had particularly serious issues leading to (stocks being) quarantined," he said.
Lu said the decision to suspend imports was taken to minimise the "serious threat to agriculture and ecology" from harmful pests and was "completely reasonable and legal".
"Like any other country, the Chinese government also needs to protect the health and safety of its own citizens," he added.
Canada exported more than C$5 billion (US$3.75 billion) worth of canola last year, with almost half of it, or about five million tonnes, going to China, according to industry figures.
