The federal government wants a quick end, possibly by this summer, to restrictions on cattle imports from the United States based on concerns about bluetongue and anaplasmosis, agriculture minister Chuck Strahl indicated last week.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is consulting with the livestock industry on a proposal to lift the import restrictions that are based on fear of bluetongue. It promises a proposal on anaplasmosis soon.
Strahl told the House of Commons agriculture committee May 30 that both diseases will be included in the new regulation.
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They have been protectionist irritants to the U.S. cattle industry for decades and the Canadian cattle industry has long lobbied the federal government to end the restriction because it undermines trade relations and the diseases are not significant risks.
Strahl said the consultations should be concluded soon.
“It should be done quickly because we plan to move ahead with that and we plan to open the border for anaplasmosis and for bluetongue as quickly as possible.”
For Conservative MP James Bezan, “as quickly as possible” should be this summer.
“I’m hopeful it will happen this summer,” said Bezan, a former official with the Manitoba Cattle Producers’ Association. “It has been going on too long. This is a trade irritant that has been around for at least 15 years, no doubt longer, and the risks are minimal. I do not understand how or why it has taken this long.”
Bezan said a Canadian move to end restrictions on imports from states susceptible to those diseases, which now require tests during certain seasons, would help persuade the U.S. to lift its ban on Canadian cattle older than 30 months, a restriction related to BSE.
“I really think if we move, it will speed up opening the border south to older animals,” Bezan said.
Strahl told the committee that while American agriculture secretary Mike Johanns is anxious to see the border open to older Canadian animals, the discovery of two new BSE cases in Canada last winter delayed the process.
Johanns still wants the border open this year but he faces resistance.
“When we had two cases in quick succession like that, there’s no doubt that set it back a number of months.”
