Rumours of the American border opening early to live Canadian cattle under 30 months are not true, says a United States government official.
Ed Curlett, public affairs specialist with the United States Department of Agriculture animal plant and health inspection service said there has been no fast tracking of the rules to allow live Canadian cattle into the U.S. early.
“There’s nothing new here,” said Curlett, responding to a CBC Newsworld story that live Canadian cattle could be entering the U.S. by Dec. 15.
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association also said the speculation of the border opening to live cattle is premature.
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The rule for exporting live cattle to the U.S. remains under review in the U.S. Office of Budgets and Management.
The draft rules were sent to that office on Oct. 1. It will be at least the end of October or the middle of November before the office sends the draft back to the USDA, when the 60-day comment period begins, he said.
“This is all a routine process,” said Curlett.
Steve Kay, editor of Cattle Buyers Weekly, said he had calls from cattle traders in Chicago on Oct. 20, 15 minutes before the markets closed, wanting to know about the rumour.
“It’s total nonsense,” said Kay.
