Canada seeks to clarify U.S. decision to keep ban on older cattle imports
By Dennis Bueckert
OTTAWA (CP) - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency insisted Friday that any impact on Canada's cattle industry would be minimal following a U.S. decision to delay lifting a ban on imports of older cattle from Canada.
"For now it's a delay only," said Francis Lord, director of animal health at the agency, in an interview Friday.
"Not such a big deal. We had a new case and they just want to be sure that everything is accounted for in their risk assessment."
Earlier this month, a cow in northern Alberta tested positive for BSE. The animal was born after the introduction of new feed regulations that were supposed to stop the spread of the disease.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Friday it was postponing the re-opening of the border to older Canadian cattle pending an investigation into the latest case. Lord said a joint Canada-U.S. investigation is close to completion.
Karen Eggert, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said the rule change should be proceed once the investigation is complete.
"Canada's regulatory system is effectively protecting consumers and livestock so there's no question about safety," said Eggert.
"It's just prudent to hold the proposed rule until the joint investigation into how the animal was exposed to infected materials is complete."
"Since there is this seventh detection of BSE in Canada with a cow that was born after the 1997 feed ban, we want to revisit that rule just a bit."
Most cattle older than 30 months are used for breeding rather than food. They tend to be purebreds, sometimes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars each, and are an important component of the Canadian industry.
A U.S. ranchers' group, R-CALF USA, has been lobbying to have the ban maintained.
Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert raised concerns about possible political motivations behind the delay Friday. Eggert said politics is not a factor.
"This is a scientific evaluation. What we want to find out from this investigation is how the animal was exposed to BSE."
Herb McLane, executive vice-president of the Canadian Beef Breeds Council, said the delay is disappointing but not entirely unexpected given recent cases of BSE.
"While it is disappointing that the rule is moving back, we did expect it. What we don't know is how long that process will take."
He said the delay in the U.S. rule change will also affect exports to Mexico.
"It's unlikely we're going to be able to trade with Mexico until such time as we've restored trade with the U.S. and that's a huge disappointment to us. "
Rod MacLean, cattle buyer for Bow Slope Shipping Association in Brooks, Alta. downplayed the impact of the delay.
"It's probably going to cost us a little money, but I think purebred people are going to feel more of the pinch on that. It's not that big a deal for the straight beef producers."
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/28072006/2/national-canada-seeks-clarify-u-s-decision-keep-ban-older.html