USDA Delays Effective Date for Allowing Certain Beef Imports from Canada
On February 9, 2005, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Secretary announced that the March 7, 2005 effective date for allowing imports of beef from animals 30 months or older from Canada has been delayed.
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In January 2005, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a final rule, effective March 7, 2005, which: (1) establishes a category of regions that present a minimal risk of introducing bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) into the U.S. via live ruminants and ruminant products and byproducts, and (2) added Canada to this minimal risk category.
However, as ongoing investigations into recent findings of BSE in Canada in animals over 30 months are not complete, the USDA Secretary feels it is prudent to delay the effective date for allowing imports of beef from animals 30 months or over. (See ITT's Online Archives or 01/05/05 and 01/14/05 news, 05010599 1 and 05011499 2, for BP summaries of two Canadian cows recently testing positive for BSE.)
An APHIS source explained that APHIS' current thinking is that this delay will affect only beef from animals 30 months or older. This source expected that, as of March 7, 2005, the importation from Canada of other products and animals covered in the final rule would be allowed, such as cattle under 30 months of age, beef from animals under 30 months of age, and meat from ovines, caprines, and cervids.
USDA to Examine Allowing Imports of Animals 30 Months & Older from Canada
According to the Secretary, this action also addresses concerns over the portion of the December 2004 final rule that would reopen the Canadian border for beef from animals 30 months and over, while keeping it closed for imports of cattle 30 months and over for processing in the U.S. The Secretary noted that USDA is examining this issue in response to Senators' concerns that this portion of the final rule is inconsistent.
The Secretary indicated that he would like U.S. officials to move forward in consideration and development of a plan to allow imports of animals 30 months and older for slaughter as well as beef from over 30-month animals.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 01/05/05 and 01/06/05 news, 05010535 and 05010620, for BP summary of the USDA's January 2005final rule on BSE minimal risk regions.)
USDA Secretary's Statement (Release No. 0047.05, dated 02/09/05) available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2005/02/0047.xml
USDA Secretary's Joint Statement with Canadian Agriculture Minister (Release No. 0048.05, dated 02/09/05) available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2005/02/0048.xml