November 29, 2006

Canada applauds USDA's efforts in resuming beef imports

The Canadian government has expressed satisfaction over the USDA's decision to resubmit its second bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) rule for interagency review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

This is the last step before publication of the rule for public comment.

Resuming the OMB process indicates that normalising trade remains a priority and a shared objective of the two governments, pointed out Chuck Strahl, minister of agriculture and agri-food and minister for the Canadian Wheat Board.

Canadian officials would continue to work with their American counterparts to ensure that older animals from Canada, products derived from them, as well as breeding stock could be traded as soon as possible, he added.

The US put a blanket ban on Canadian beef and cattle following Canada's first case of BSE in May 2003. Though imports resumed later, they have been restricted to animals younger than 30 months old. The older, it is believed carry a higher risk of disease.