January 19, 2004

Canada, US To Promote Integrated Mad Cow Approach

Canada's push to develop a North American approach dealing with bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad-cow disease, was believed to have been well received by the U.S. during talks on Thursday, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Bob Speller.

Speller met Thursday with U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson and emphasized that opening North American borders is the best way to show consumers that beef is safe.

"I think U.S. industry and government officials recognize the need for a collaborative and cooperative approach to BSE," Speller said in a prepared statement released late Thursday evening. "The livelihoods of producers throughout North America rest on decision makers in all three countries working on this question together. I am hopeful that before we leave here we will have such a commitment from our North American neighbors."

Because of the importance of trade in beef and cattle between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, Speller discussed the need for a joint process at both the policy and technical levels during his meetings. This approach would further help to get borders opened at the earliest possible opportunity, he said.

Speller began Thursday with meetings with the American Meat Institute and Tyson Foods where he detailed Canada's position regarding the BSE issue and also his position that maintaining consumer confidence must continue to be key for all stakeholders.

"Our continuing priority is the protection of human health and safety as well as giving consumers confidence in the fact that the beef they eat is safe," Speller said.

The Minister said Canada is accomplishing these goals by enhancing its systems through the removal of specified risk materials in cattle over 30 months from the food chain, by increasing surveillance, by improving tracking and tracing and by working toward a harmonized approach to feed that reflects the integrated nature of the North American cattle industry.

Speller is expected to participate in a trilateral meeting Friday with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman and Mexican Agriculture Secretary Javier Usabiaga in Washington.