KINGSTON, Jamaica—After closing its borders to Canadian beef over a decade ago Jamaica has given the green light for the country resume importation of the product.

According to Canada media reports, Canada’s Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz made the announcement on Monday that Jamaica had approved all imports of beef and beef products from Canada after a closure of the market in 2003 due to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) popularly known as Mad Cow Disease.

“Our Government continues to work with industry to open new markets to increase exports of our top-class beef,” the Canadian minister is reported as saying.

“This new access gives Canadian producers another vibrant market for their product, increasing their competitiveness and growing our overall economy, ” he added.

Meanwhile, Chief veterinary officer, in the Veterinary Division of Jamaica’s Ministry of Agriculture Dr Osbil Watson did not confirm nor deny the reports when contacted by OBSERVER ONLINE.

Jamaica is Canada’s second largest market for agricultural exports within the Caribbean region, after Cuba, with 2013 agricultural exports to Jamaica totalling $54 million. The Jamaican market for Canadian beef is worth approximately Can$4.5 million, or 1.5 million pounds of beef annually, according to data from a Canadian source.