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US Mad Cow Animals
The USDA animal abusers
will block Canadian beef
at the border they say..
so that only the US Mad
Cow animals can be devoured.
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Beef will be blocked at U.S. border for weeks
Last Updated Wed, 21 May 2003 12:27:56
WASHINGTON - The U.S. border probably will remain closed to Canadian beef for weeks before Washington is satisfied there's no danger from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
INDEPTH: Mad Cow Disease
Gary Weber
"To do the testing would take some time," Gary Weber, executive director of regulatory affairs with the U.S. National Cattlemen's Beef Association told CBC Newsworld on Wednesday.
Minutes after federal Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief made public the fact that Canada had its first case of BSE, better known as mad cow disease, the U.S. put a ban on all Canadian beef products.
Australia, South Korea and Japan have followed suit. Others, such as the European Union aren't making similar moves, saying they are confident Canada's system is safe.
Jean Chrétien
"The U.S. Secretary (of Agriculture Ann Veneman) and commentators have all said that Canada has acted in a very decisive way, very quickly," said Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. "We've got one of the best inspection systems in the world, more stringent in fact than international standards."
Washington has sent a team of experts to Canada to help with the testing and investigation needed to determine the scope of the problem.
"We sincerely believe that this is an anomaly, a single case, in a single herd and we think the testing will prove that to be the case," said Weber.
Weber said once that happens, the process of reopening the border for Canadian beef would get started. But that could take weeks, he said.
More than 83 per cent of Canada's beef exports go to the United States. Last year, beef exports were worth $4 billion, making Canada the world's third largest supplier of beef.
Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew said on Wednesday he believes the industry will be alright.
"I think we will contain it quickly enough that it will not have any lasting effects," said Pettigrew.
Written by CBC News Online staff
