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Possible BSE case should not affect border opening
this document web posted: Thursday, December 30, 2004 20041223p1
By Barbara Duckworth
Calgary bureau
A potential new case of BSE in a 10-year-old dairy cow from Alberta should not affect the American decision to resume live cattle trade with Canada on March 7, according to Canadian officials.
The cow was a downer, one of the four high risk categories. Brain tissue samples submitted for testing showed inconclusive results through two rapid tests last week.
A final diagnostic test is under way at the Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health in Winnipeg. Confirmation is expected in two to four days, said Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials Dec. 30.
The suspect animal's background in already under investigation with a broader check expected if the test is positive.
"Such a case was not completely unexpected," said CFIA veterinarian Francine Lord.
Since the first case was found in May, 2003 the agency predicted a few more cases were possible.
Another case of BSE does not change Canada's minimal risk status. According to international animal health guidelines, a country can have up to two cases of BSE per million head of cattle in a 12 month period and retain its minimal risk status.
The animal's carcass did not enter the food chain.
The animal was born before a 1997 ban was instituted on including remains from ruminant animals in feed destined for other ruminant, or multi-stomached, animals such as cows.
Young Canadian cattle could start flowing across the American border by March 7, 2005.
The long awaited United States Department of Agriculture rule was announced Dec. 29 lifting the import ban on cattle, sheep, goats, cervids like deer and elk, as well as llamas and alpacas. Most international customers ceased ruminant meat and livestock trade 19 months ago after a single case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy was announced May 20, 2003.
The Canadian Cattlemen's Association said this is the news livestock producers have been waiting to hear.
"We're going to see a lot more renewed confidence in the industry," said Dennis Laycraft, CCA executive vice-president.
"At the same time we're going to do our best to maintain the expanded capacity that we have put in place and step up our marketing efforts to make sure we are never as vulnerable we were the last 19 months," he said.
The rule designates Canada as a minimal risk region because of the steps it implemented to control BSE. It has restricted imports from BSE positive countries since 1990, its BSE testing program exceeds international guidelines and has maintained an effective ruminant to ruminant feed ban since 1997.
The rule requests the following:
Cattle younger than 30 months must carry a CAN brand on the right hip, individual ear tag identification tracing it to its farm of origin and appropriate health of animals paperwork. Cattle must be shipped in sealed containers to designated feedlots or slaughterhouses.
Meat, meat byproducts and meat food products must be derived from animals where all specified risk materials including the brain, skull, eyes, glands, spinal column, vertebral column excluding the tail and dorsal root ganglia have been removed. The small intestine and tonsils must be removed from cattle of all ages. These are the areas considered to carry the infectious BSE agent.
Tallow with less than 0.15 percent insoluble impurities and not mixed with other material of animal origin is acceptable. Gelatin is acceptable if it was derived from the bones of bovines subject to the ruminant feed ban and from which all SRMs were removed.
Sheep and goats younger than 12 months must carry a C brand, appropriate ear tags and health certification papers. Sheep casings from animals under 12 months that were subject to the ruminant to ruminant feed ban are allowed. The USDA is prohibiting the importation of sheep or gaots that are positive, suspect for any transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.
Deer, elk and meat are no longer restricted. The USDA is removing the requirement that hunter harvested meat be accompanied by a Canadian government certificate.
Llamas, alpacas, guanacos and vicunas are no longer restricted.
this document web posted: Thursday, December 30, 2004 20041223p1
By Barbara Duckworth
Calgary bureau
A potential new case of BSE in a 10-year-old dairy cow from Alberta should not affect the American decision to resume live cattle trade with Canada on March 7, according to Canadian officials.
The cow was a downer, one of the four high risk categories. Brain tissue samples submitted for testing showed inconclusive results through two rapid tests last week.
A final diagnostic test is under way at the Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health in Winnipeg. Confirmation is expected in two to four days, said Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials Dec. 30.
The suspect animal's background in already under investigation with a broader check expected if the test is positive.
"Such a case was not completely unexpected," said CFIA veterinarian Francine Lord.
Since the first case was found in May, 2003 the agency predicted a few more cases were possible.
Another case of BSE does not change Canada's minimal risk status. According to international animal health guidelines, a country can have up to two cases of BSE per million head of cattle in a 12 month period and retain its minimal risk status.
The animal's carcass did not enter the food chain.
The animal was born before a 1997 ban was instituted on including remains from ruminant animals in feed destined for other ruminant, or multi-stomached, animals such as cows.
Young Canadian cattle could start flowing across the American border by March 7, 2005.
The long awaited United States Department of Agriculture rule was announced Dec. 29 lifting the import ban on cattle, sheep, goats, cervids like deer and elk, as well as llamas and alpacas. Most international customers ceased ruminant meat and livestock trade 19 months ago after a single case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy was announced May 20, 2003.
The Canadian Cattlemen's Association said this is the news livestock producers have been waiting to hear.
"We're going to see a lot more renewed confidence in the industry," said Dennis Laycraft, CCA executive vice-president.
"At the same time we're going to do our best to maintain the expanded capacity that we have put in place and step up our marketing efforts to make sure we are never as vulnerable we were the last 19 months," he said.
The rule designates Canada as a minimal risk region because of the steps it implemented to control BSE. It has restricted imports from BSE positive countries since 1990, its BSE testing program exceeds international guidelines and has maintained an effective ruminant to ruminant feed ban since 1997.
The rule requests the following:
Cattle younger than 30 months must carry a CAN brand on the right hip, individual ear tag identification tracing it to its farm of origin and appropriate health of animals paperwork. Cattle must be shipped in sealed containers to designated feedlots or slaughterhouses.
Meat, meat byproducts and meat food products must be derived from animals where all specified risk materials including the brain, skull, eyes, glands, spinal column, vertebral column excluding the tail and dorsal root ganglia have been removed. The small intestine and tonsils must be removed from cattle of all ages. These are the areas considered to carry the infectious BSE agent.
Tallow with less than 0.15 percent insoluble impurities and not mixed with other material of animal origin is acceptable. Gelatin is acceptable if it was derived from the bones of bovines subject to the ruminant feed ban and from which all SRMs were removed.
Sheep and goats younger than 12 months must carry a C brand, appropriate ear tags and health certification papers. Sheep casings from animals under 12 months that were subject to the ruminant to ruminant feed ban are allowed. The USDA is prohibiting the importation of sheep or gaots that are positive, suspect for any transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.
Deer, elk and meat are no longer restricted. The USDA is removing the requirement that hunter harvested meat be accompanied by a Canadian government certificate.
Llamas, alpacas, guanacos and vicunas are no longer restricted.
