BISMARCK, N.D. –Gov. John Hoeven this week urged U.S. Agriculture Sec. Mike Johanns to halt plans to expand imports of Canadian beef until all proper safety measures have been implemented to prevent negative impacts on North Dakota producers due to the recent discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Canadian livestock.
In a letter to the Secretary, Hoeven wrote: “I oppose any further expansion of the Canadian beef trade until the United States receives assurances from Canada and its other trading partners that, if trade is expanded and a problem is detected in a foreign-born import, that the animal’s country of origin, not the United States, will suffer any resulting trade sanctions.”
The USDA plans to proceed with the authorization of importation of Canadian beef from animals over 30 months of age and live Canada animals born after March 1,1999. Hoeven’s concern was heightened by the discover y last month of yet another BSE afflicted cow in Canada.
“Because BSE is not a contagious disease, I want to emphasize that we are not opposed to the USDA’s proposed rule because of food safety concerns but rather concerned that the potential import of Canadian afflicted animals would have negative impact on our domestic industry and the agriculture economy.”
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