June 28, 2006

 

Canada bans cattle parts from all animal feed

 

 

Canada announced it would ban risky cattle parts from all animal feed in an effort to strengthen its fight against mad cow disease.

 

Cattle parts are currently banned from feed destined for cows but not for other animals.

 

Under the new ruiles to be phased in over the next year, cattle parts would also be banned from pet food and fertilisers to avoid the risk of cross-contamination of feed.

 

Dr. Brian Evans, the government's chief veterinary officer, said the new rules would accelerate the campaign to eradicate mad cow disease and bolster trade opportunities.

 

The announcement came on the eve of a visit to Ottawa by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, whose country has been calling for a tougher feed ban as a condition for resuming Canadian beef exports.

 

Evans noted that Cuba, Algeria, Lebanon and Russia have already opened their markets in response to Canada's previous efforts to fight mad cow disease.

 

Although the once-banned shipments of live cattle to the US were resumed last year, older animals, believed to be more susceptible to the disease, are still banned.

 

Canada has had five mad cow cases with two involving animals that were infected after 1997, when a ban barring the use of cattle parts like the brain and spinal cord in cattle feed was implemented. 

 

The use of infected animal byproducts in feed is regarded as one of the main ways cattle are infected with mad cow disease. 

 

As the disease has a long incubation period. Evans cautioned that a small number of cases might still emerge in the next 18 months to three years in spite of the new rules.

 

Evans estimated that, under the new feed ban, mad cow disease could be wiped out in Canada in less than 10 years compared with estimates of 15 to 20 years under the less stringent 1997 ban.

 

Canada's food inspection agency would work with producers, slaughterhouses and packers to implement the new rules by July 2007. Smaller operators would be given an additional six months grace to comply.

 

More than US$80 million have been allocated to aid the industry in the transition.