November 18, 2005

US to allow imports of older Canadian cattle
 

The US Department of Agriculture has announced that it would allow Canadian cows over 30 months of age for import, by the middle of 2006.

Canadian beef was earlier banned in the US due to mad cow disease in 2003, but the ban has been lifted earlier this year. Since then, Canadian cows younger than 30 months of age were allowed, as they were considered less susceptible to the disease.

US meat packers said some slaughterhouses were unable to buy enough cattle to operate at profit-making levels, and this threatened their survival. Thus, older live cattle allowed for imports might help.