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TheDairySite BSE News
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Print This Page New Canadian BSE case reignites US import battle
US - A new case of BSE detected in Canada has sparked renewed calls in the US for tighter import regulations on Canadian beef.The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on Tuesday confirmed the diagnosis of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a 13-year-old beef cow from Alberta.
The animal was identified by a national surveillance program, which targets cattle most at risk. According to CFIA, the surveillance program results in "an extremely low" incidence of BSE in Canada.
"Canada has a suite of robust BSE control measures exceeding the recommended international standards. This year, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) categorized Canada as a Controlled Risk country for BSE. This status acknowledges the effectiveness of Canada's surveillance, risk mitigation and eradication measures. This case will not affect Canada's risk status," it said in a statement.
However, US producers' association R-Calf claims Canada's controls are "inadequate" to protect the US from the avoidable risk of BSE.
"Had this 13-year-old cow not been detected under Canada's limited, voluntary testing program, the meat from that cow would have been eligible for export to the United States," said R-Calf USA president Max Thornsberry.
The group also accused the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) of taking inadequate measures to protect the US industry.
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Source: Foodnavigator.com
