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Johanns:
New BSE case will not affect Canada's status
by Pete Hisey
The discovery of another
case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Canada is not likely to change
Canada's status as a trade partner with the United States, said Mike Johanns,
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
"With the information currently available, we do not anticipate a change in the
status of beef imports from Canada," he said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
"While our risk assessment anticipated multiple cases of BSE, we are confident
that the interlocking safeguards in place in both Canada and the United States
are providing effective consumer protection."
USDA is continuing work on a proposed rule to allow animals over 30 months of
age to move from Canada to the United States, he said, and findings from an
investigation of this case will be considered in writing that rule.
Ranchers-Cattlemen's Action Legal Fund, however, had a different take on the
matter, noting that Alberta, where this animal was found, has become a "hot
spot" for BSE. R-CALF asked that trade in all cattle from Canada be suspended
until a full investigation can be conducted.
The find was the eighth case of BSE discovered in the Canadian herd since the
first was found in 2003. A case involving an imported British animal was
discovered in 1993.
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