A new risk assessment on older animals, which are thought to be more likely to contract mad cow disease, was sent late last week to the White House for consideration but wasn't publicly announced. The review by the White House's Office of Management and Budget is one step toward eventually resuming trade.

The effort was halted in July when Canada discovered a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in a four-year-old cow, born long after a ban on using cattle remains in feed went into effect in 1997 to guard against the spread of the disease.

U.S. officials wanted to look at the effectiveness of safeguards north of the border and consider some additional information in the plan to resume full trade.

Canada, which reported its eighth case in August, is still considered to be at minimal risk of introducing BSE into the United States.

Source: Canada.com