Dominican market reopening shows that offal access depends on audit-ready systems

The Dominican Republic has again approved imports of Canadian beef and beef products, including offal from cattle of all ages. According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, this is the first reopening since 2003, when the market closed after Canada’s initial BSE case. Three Canadian processing establishments have initially been approved for export.

The decisive step was an audit of Canada’s meat-inspection system carried out by the Dominican authorities responsible for medicines, food, health products and livestock. The decision demonstrates that market access is not created by supply availability or price alone. It depends on the importing country being able to verify the exporting country’s food-safety, inspection and animal-health controls. For Canada, its internationally recognised negligible BSE-risk status is part of that confidence framework.

For the industry, the practical relevance reaches beyond adding one more destination. The Dominican Republic imported approximately CAD 215 million in beef and beef products in 2025. In a carcass-value economy, approval of offal alongside muscle meat broadens the potential for value recovery, although it neither guarantees sales nor settles individual commercial requirements. The operational lesson is that export diversification is built before a consignment is loaded: through auditable official programmes, eligible establishments, consistent documentation and the capability to demonstrate compliance continuously. Access is won through a decision, but it is maintained through the chain’s day-to-day execution.