| January 3, 2005
From the Miami Herald
(Excerpt
- for complete article, please visit Miami
Herald)
OUR
OPINION: DOWNGRADING RISK FROM CANADA BEEF A POSITIVE
STEP
There
were big sighs of relief on both sides of the border
last week when the U.S. Agriculture Department announced
that it was easing restrictions on cattle imports from
Canada. The decision was the right one. It reflects
an Agriculture Department finding that there is ''minimal
risk'' from Canada's cattle and will help ease tensions
between the United States and one of its largest trading
partners...
Dozens
of other countries also banned beef from Canada after
the disease was found in the Canadian cow. Last month,
President Bush set the policy change in motion after
visiting with Prime Minister Paul Martin. Among other
things, Mr. Martin talked about Canada's rigorous testing
program. Last week, however, another Canadian cow, identified
as a 10-year-old high-risk ''downer'' was being being
tested for mad-cow disease.
The
rule will allow Canadian cattle younger than 30 months
old to be imported into the United States starting March
7. The animals must be transported in sealed containers,
and breeding cattle won't be allowed. Although the rule
change clears the way for a resumption of imports, several
hurdles remain. Congress has to review the rule changes.
And U.S. farmers can, and likely will, challenge the
policy in court.
The
ban was a heavy-handed response to one infected Canadian
cow. When an infected U.S. cow was discovered in Washington
state last year, officials risked whiplash as they jumped
through hoops to ensure consumers that U.S. beef supplies
were safe.
The
United States and Canada share a 4,000-mile border,
and trade between our countries supports more than two
million jobs in each country. Ending the ban on cattle
is a positive step toward building better relations.
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