Bingaman Urges Bush Administration Not to Reopen Canadian Border to Live Cattle Imports

Bingaman Urges Bush Administration Not to Reopen Canadian Border to Live Cattle Imports

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today asked the Bush administration to reconsider its decision to reopen the U.S.-Canadian border to live cattle imports citing the fourth case of "mad cow disease" detected in Canadian cattle in recent years.

In May 2003, the United States closed the border to Canadian cattle imports because bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) was detected in a Canadian dairy cow. After being convinced that Canada had taken necessary steps to prevent the disease from spreading, the Bush administration last month decided to reopen the border to live cattle on March 7, 2005.

But Bingaman today urged Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman to reconsider that decision in light of the fact that two new cases of mad cow disease was found in Canadian-born cattle.

"There have now been four cases of Canadian-born animals, including one cow found in Washington, known to have this dangerous disease. Of particular concern is that the fourth animal was born in March 1998, after Canada had imposed a ban on any feed containing animal materials that increase the risk of spreading mad cow disease," Bingaman wrote.

"In addition to health and safety issues for U.S. consumers, I am concerned about the possible impact of this decision on efforts to fully reopen exports to Mexico and Asia. For more than a year, the United States has worked to lift various countries' bans on exports of live-cattle and beef. I appreciate the delicate nature of the department's ongoing negotiations; however, I believe there is no scientifically justified reason for any country to close their border to live-cattle and beef products from the United States. I am concerned that reopening the Canadian border in the face of the continuing confirmation of BSE-infected cattle could set back efforts to restore these major export markets," he continued in his letter.

Bingaman pointed out that the dairy, and cattle and calf industries represent New Mexico's single largest agricultural commodities with annual sales of more than $1.3 billion. He told Veneman he did not want the United States to take any action - such as reopening the U.S. Canadian border for live cattle imports -- that does not fully protect U.S. producers from what may be a more prevalent problem in Canada than anyone had previously assumed.

Earlier this month Bingaman asked the Bush administration to work with Mexican President Vicente Fox's administration to open the Mexican border once again to U.S. cattle exports. Mexico has barred U.S. live cattle exports for more than a year after an isolated case of "mad cow" disease was detected in a Canadian-born dairy cow in the state of Washington.

http://bingaman.senate.gov/Press_Files/Press_by_Date/Press_Release/press_release_35.html