More BSE found in the U.S.

News Release
Federal Government

Despite the confirmation today of a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a cow in the United States, Canada remains confident that the food safety and animal health measures that the U.S. Administration has in place to effectively manage the disease are in line with the science-based international standards that provide protection to consumers and livestock.
Canada and the U.S. have long acknowledged that a small number of additional BSE cases are likely to be found in North America. However, these cases would be reflective of a very low and declining level of BSE and would not represent an increased risk to food safety or animal health because of the suite of measures already in place in both countries.
Our countries have worked in close collaboration to adopt extensive complementary and parallel measures to protect food safety and animal health from BSE. Both countries have meat inspection systems that mitigate BSE risks, including a requirement that specified risk material (SRM) be removed from all animals slaughtered for human consumption. This measure is internationally recognized as the most effective way to protect public health from BSE.
Since 1997, Canadian and American feed controls, which are equivalent and consistent with international standards, have been effectively limiting the spread of BSE and can be expected to lead to the eradication of the disease over time.
We do not see the need for additional import restrictions given the measures that Canada and the U.S. have put in place, which are in accordance with science-based international standards.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has recently announced new guidelines for BSE that reflect the most current internationally accepted scientific information for the disease. Canada believes that science-based standards serve to encourage reporting of the disease and recognition of the effectiveness of mitigation measures implemented by countries, and provide the basis for safe trade.
We will continue to collaborate with our USDA counterparts in maintaining measures necessary to protect food safety and animal health as more information becomes available and to cooperate with them on managing the risk of BSE in North America.
As well, Canada will continue to press its case in light of the upcoming BSE related court decisions on re-opening the U.S. market for Canadian live animals, breeding animals and other ruminant products.