South Korea has lifted its temporary ban on imports of Canadian beef and veal after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) released its final report on a case of BSE found in Alberta last year.

The beef ban was put in place as a response to this case of BSE, but the CFIA concluded it was an isolated instance with no part of the animal having entered the human food or animal feed systems.

With the re-opening of this market and the repeal of U.S. country of origin labeling for beef, Canadian Cattlemen's Association president Dave Solverson says the past few weeks have been good for producers.

"Canada depends on exports, we cannot consume all the beef we raise," he says, "we believe through trade — even if we import some beef — to be able to export adds value to every animal in Canada. Every producer makes money because by having all these outlets, it allows us to export the part of the animal to the part of the world that's willing to pay the most."

For example, Solverson says South Korea is a very valuable market for specialty meats, such as beef ribs. He says they also value some of the cow's internal organs much higher than Canadian culture.

In 2014, prior to the suspension of trade, South Korea was Canada's sixth-largest market for beef, with exports valued at $26 million.