Canada-Improving meat inspections.

CANADA-- Canada is stepping up inspections of pork products in light of the swine flu outbreak.

The federal government says it’s taking the action to protect the pork export market - and to reassure Canadians that their food is safe.

A statement by International Trade Minister Stockwell Day and Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz stresses that human swine influenza cannot be contracted by eating pork or pork products.

But that hasn’t satisfied some countries, which have imposed a ban on North American pork and live hog products.

Canadian pork exports were valued at $2.7 billion in 2008.

There have been 16 confirmed cases of swine flu across Canada following an outbreak that started in Mexico and spread to the United States and other parts of the world.