AAFC News Release
Aug. 29, 2007

CANADA'S NEW GOVERNMENT APPLAUDS U.S. COURT DECISION ENDING LEGAL CHALLENGE REGARDING CANADIAN BEEF EXPORTS

OTTAWA, Ontario - The Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, today issued the following statement after the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision related to the ongoing challenge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) Minimal Risk Region Final Rule (Final Rule).

"Canada's New Government is pleased that the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled definitively to uphold the USDA's BSE Final Rule. We hope that this decision will finally bring closure to this unnecessary legal proceeding.

"This ruling follows the May 22, 2007 decision by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to officially categorize Canada as a Controlled BSE Risk country. This status clearly recognizes the effectiveness of Canada's surveillance, mitigation and eradication measures and it acknowledges the work done by all levels of government, the cattle industry, veterinarians, the feed sector and ranchers to effectively manage and eventually eradicate BSE in Canada. On the same date, the OIE provided the same risk status to the United States regarding its own BSE mitigation measures.

"Our OIE status should serve as evidence to those who would further hamper efforts to expand beef and cattle trade between our countries that Canada's approach to human and animal health is based on sound, internationally recognized science. Canada's measures to eradicate BSE from the North American herd, including our enhanced feed ban, will continue to ensure that consumer confidence is well-founded. These measures are also anticipated to even further improve Canada's OIE BSE risk status in the coming years.

"It has taken a lot of hard work, at all levels, in both of our countries to reach this important point. Our governments will continue to work together, and with industry, towards the normalization of North America's beef and cattle trade, so that it creates opportunities and increases profitability for farm families and industry in both the United States and Canada."

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