Canadian canola exports to China under scrutiny amid disturbed relations

China's foreign ministry said on Wednesday that the country's customs officials had frequently discovered what was described as "hazardous pests" in samples taken recently from Canadian canola imports. The comment, made by an official spokesman during a regular press briefing, came after Reuters reported that China had cancelled Canadian agribusiness Richardson International Ltd's registration to ship canola to China, the world's top importer of the oilseed. Canada's agriculture minister said on Tuesday that Canada's food inspection agency had carried out checks and had not identified any pests or bacteria of concern.