March 25, 2004

Canada Calls For Removal Of US Beef, Cattle Trade Bans
 
Canadian Agriculture Minister Bob Speller said he urged his U.S. counterpart Wednesday to lift all remaining restrictions barring U.S. imports of Canadian cattle and beef.
 
U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary J.B. Penn said separately that USDA agrees with that goal and is working with Canada to achieve it.
 
"We have the same objectives," Penn said.
 
In response to Canada's case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, reported in May 2003, the U.S. maintains a ban on all Canadian cattle. The U.S. allows in boneless boxed beef from cattle under 30 months of age but bans the same product from older animals.
 
The U.S. is currently considering partially lifting those bans. The USDA has issued a proposal to allow in Canadian live cattle, so long as they are under 30 months of age, as well as open up to boneless boxed beef from cattle of any age.
 
Speller told reporters that is not good enough. He said USDA should lift its ban on cattle of all ages.
 
Penn, in response, said USDA is considering preparing a "supplement" to the proposed rule that would allow in Canadian cattle over 30 months of age. He said the supplement would be added after the proposed rule is eventually implemented.
 
The supplement would take less time for the U.S. to approve than creating a whole new rule for cattle over 30 months of age, Penn said.
 
Speller said and any bans Canada and the U.S. place on each other send bad signals to foreign markets, such as Japan, that North American beef is not safe.
 
Speller said: "Science indicates there would be no greater risk of BSE in the U.S. if the border reopened fully to Canadian live animals and animal products."
 
The U.S. also discovered a case of BSE last year, in December, and Canada maintains some restrictions on U.S. cattle and beef.
 
However, Speller said earlier Wednesday that Canada is moving quickly to ease its restriction on U.S. cattle that allows in only animals "imported for immediate slaughter."