Buenos Aires, Sep 18 (IANS): Argentina has succeeded in reopening its meat market to Canada after 14 years, the Canadian ministry of agriculture announced.

The Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Casamiquela, announced on Thursday that the decision to allow meat exports from Argentina was taken in Canada after an official visit by a delegation from Argentina's National Service for Agricultural Health and Quality (SENASA), Xinhua reported.

"Canada's health authorities approved the Official Veterinary Certificate provided by SENASA. As a result, the Canadian market is once again open to Argentinean meat, starting two months from now," a ministry of agriculture statement said.

Casamiquela also focused on the importance of pressing ahead with negotiations to open and re-open markets.

"The ministry, through its technical teams and decentralised bodies, like SENASA, is working hard to reverse the commercial shackles that have been generated for some years," he added.

In June, the World Trade Organization also sided with Argentina in its negotiations with the US that has also banned meat imports from the South American country for 14 years since a foot-and-mouth outbreak happened there in 2001.