January 7, 2004

 

 

Canada Announces Global Campaign To Restore Confidence in Beef

 

Following DNA tests proving the US mad cow originated from Alberta, Canada announced a global marketing campaign on Tuesday to promote the safety of its beef produce.

 

According to Canadian Agriculture Minister Bob Speller, meetings and trade missions with the U.S., Mexico, South Korea and Japan have been arranged.

 

The meetings will highlight Canada's efforts to prevent and control bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease.

 

"We believe that we can go around the world and tell people we have a safe commodity," Speller said.

 

Speller said the fact that a Holstein found on a Washington state farm was born in Canada demonstrated the extensive integration of two nations' beef industries.

 

"The cow in question could have easily originated in either the U.S. or Canada," he said.

 

Sens. Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad, both D-N.D., want to continue the ban of live cattle imports from Canada.

 

Dorgan said the fact the Holstein found with mad cow disease was born in Canada is "evidence enough to delay this rule-making in order that our own industry is not threatened by this devastating disease."

 

Conrad said it's good news for North Dakota's beef producers and consumers that the mad cow disease was traced to Canada.

 

"This should reassure consumers of U.S. beef both at home and in oversees markets that American beef is safe from mad cow," Conrad said.

 

Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin said that he will press for the reopening of the American market to Canadian beef when he meets with President Bush next week at the Summit of the Americas in Monterrey, Mexico.

 

"The problems that have to be dealt with are the same on both sides of the border," Martin said. "Canada has acted very quickly, has taken very significant action, has, in fact, paved the way and that has to be recognized."

 

Some 6.3 million cattle were exported from Canada to the U.S. and one million headed the other way during the past five years, Speller said. The minister invited U.S. authorities to work with Canada on a joint approach to controlling the disease.

 

Ben Thorlakson, head of Canadian Beef Export Federation said Canada has had control measures in place for a number of years and that "both Canadian and American beef is very safe,"

 

"I think we can move forward into the international markets make our case and hopefully expedite re-entry into those markets that are so critical to establishing full value for North American beef," Thorlakson said.

 

Bob Bamford, an Alberta cattle rancher, said he was not surprised by the DNA results due to the industry's cross-border nature.

 

"It's highly unlikely that only one cow ate the feed," referring to the first Canadian cow to test positive for the disease last May.