Kangiqsiniq/Rankin Inlet (Aug 20/01) - It's an official seal of approval.

The Keewatin Meat and Fish Plant in Rankin Inlet is ready to export its first caribou products with an official health seal meeting the standards of the European Union.

The caribou comes from Coral Harbour. Once in Rankin, it's processed into such cuts as Denver hinds, strip loin, tenderloin, French racks and various jerkies.

Keewatin Meat and Fish plant manager Brian Schindel says he's excited about exporting product with the official health seal.

"Even though we have been certified for some time, under the European Union requirements we still had to make some improvements to gain our seal," says Schindel.

"We applied for veterinary services to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and we now have a veterinarian in-house at the plant."

With outbreaks of hoof and mouth disease ravaging European livestock during the past few years, the relatively pristine Arctic environment should be a big selling point for Kivalliq caribou in Europe.

Keewatin Meat and Fish is one of only a handful of Canadian processors to be European certified.

That being said, caribou has never been on top of the list of exported meats to Europe, which puts Keewatin Meat and Fish in the position of investigating a new, and rather large, potential market.

The Kivalliq company will be targeting Germany, France and Switzerland with its game meat cuts.

"It's hard to just go to the Europeans and tell them you have caribou you want to sell.

"However, this seal tells them our caribou products are certified and they meet all the standards set forth by the European Union.

"Hopefully, being Arctic caribou is going to give us the edge we need to be successful in Europe."