May 11, 2007

Recent mad cow disease case raises concern on Canada's beef sector

Canada's plans to normalize and expand its beef trade in the United States, Japan and South Korea may be hampered with its latest case of mad cow disease, according to officials from the United States Agriculture Department (USDA).

The US is certain to be adversely affected by the disease issue according to North Dakota US Senator Byron Dorgan as the USDA has allowed more live cattle exports from Canada.

"I think the US Department of Agriculture has their head in the sand on these issues, the Secretary is trying to allow more Canadian cattle coming in," Senator Dorgan said.

But National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) spokesman Jay Truitt believes expanded trade with Canada is no threat to US exports to Asia. He said both nations are removing the specific risk materials which importing countries believe are the source of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). 

Truitt argues Japan is already importing the same kind of beef from Canada as from the US.