January 8, 2007

NFU president unhappy with USDA's decision to increase Canadian beef trade

National Farmers Union President Tom Buis has expressed disappointment over the USDA's decision to expand the list of allowable Canadian beef and cattle imports.

US cattle producers still do not have any assurance that Canada's BSE problem is under control, he said. He said the USDA should place the interests of US cattle producers and consumers as its priority rather than rushing to re-open beef trade with Canada.

He added the department to fully implement mandatory country-of-origin labelling before allowing additional Canadian beef and cattle imports.

Mandatory COOL was the only tool to protect the integrity of the US beef industry if another case of BSE was discovered in the Canadian herd, he said.