UPDATE 1-Incorrect labels caused China's suspension of two Canadian pork shippers -industry group

China's suspension of two Canadian pork exporters' permits was due to a labelling problem, the Canadian Pork Council industry group said on Thursday. Canadian Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said on Wednesday that China had suspended imports from two Canadian companies, widening a diplomatic rift between the countries.

Gary Stordy, the spokesman for the Canadian Pork Council, which represents hog farmers, said the labels contain basic information such as a shipment's contents, weight and place of origin. He could not say what the specific problem was with the labels on shipments from Olymel LP and Drummond Export, the two suspended Canadian companies. Tensions have grown between Ottawa and Beijing since the December arrest in Canada of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant.

"All of our industry has to make sure it's meeting China's import requirements," Stordy said. "There's extra scrutiny, and the information needs to be correct and accurate," Stordy said the suspended companies now need to correct the labelling on shipments of their pork products and explain to authorities in China as to what preventative actions they are taking to see their export permits restored.