July 10, 2006

 

Canada brushes up on international safety standards

 

 

Recent changes to Canadian import rules lifting all restrictions from US cattle have moved Canada's market closer to reintegrating the North American cattle market, while bringing its cattle markets in line with international standards, said Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Chuck Strahl.

 

Those standards come from the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE). Adopted in May 2006, the chapter on is 13 pages of highlighted revisions on mad cow disease.

 

The changes come about as more scientific data is available, David said. The OIE code is always a work in progress, he said.

 

Canada, as a member of the World Trade Organization, must be in step with OIE standards. David said that at this point, Canada is just catching up.

 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) agreed, saying Canada's animal health import restrictions are reviewed on an ongoing basis to reflect current science and do not impose unwarranted trade barriers.

 

Meanwhile, in the US, producers are wondering what to make of Canada's gesture. The benefit is "hard to gauge"said Lloyd Knight, executive vice president of the Idaho Cattle Association.

 

Mike Webster, ICA president, said Canada's recent action would more likely be a benefit to seed producers selling to Canada."

 

But as far as profits in the market go, a lot depends on the value of the US dollar to the Canadian dollar, he said.

 

Bill Bullard, CEO for Ranchers-Cattleman Action Legal Fund USA, said Canada is recognizing that the U.S. has a more favorable risk profile with their recent changes to US cattle and beef imports.

 

However, he warned that Canada may expect its gesture to be reciprocated.

 

If so, it may have just stepped up against a much more formidable obstacle recently, when it reported its sixth case of mad cow disease.

 

However, Bullard said health and safety sometimes takes a back seat to maintain open trade flow. Bullard said the push to free-low trade has been a major driver of developments.

 

Bullard noted that the US Congress seemed to be less willing to enter into trade agreements of late and lauded the trend, saying that the US must take care of its own producers first.