September 7, 2006

USDA: Decision on older Canadian cattle may take months

It may not be until the end of the year when the US Department of Agriculture resubmits a proposal to lift its ban on older Canadian cattle, but it's still unclear if any changes will be made after new mad cow disease discoveries there, USDA Secretary Mike Johanns said Wednesday (Sep 6).

The USDA in July withdrew its proposal on older cattle imports from consideration by the White House after a Canadian case of mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, spurred concern over Canada's cattle feed restrictions. It was Canada's seventh BSE case found in a native-born cow.

Johanns said the reason the proposal was withdrawn was to see if any changes need to be made, but stressed he did not yet know if revisions would be necessary.

"Right now experts at USDA are looking at this and trying to make an assessment," Johanns said.

Canada's cattle feed restrictions, aimed at stopping the spread of BSE, were implemented in 1997. However, BSE was discovered in July in a cow just four years old. That would mean it was likely infected years after the Canadian restrictions were in place.

The Canadian feed ban, similar to the one in the US, prohibits the use of bovine material in cattle feed because infected feed is believed to be the primary means of spreading BSE among animals.

The US banned all Canadian beef and cattle in May 2003 after Canada's first domestic case of BSE was found. The USDA eased that ban a few months later on some beef and, in Jul 2005, began allowing in younger cattle which represent most imports.

The USDA proposal to allow in older cattle has taken longer because older cattle are believed to be at higher risk for BSE.

Canada reported finding another BSE case--its eighth--in August.