Canadian trade normalization has little impact

Daily News Update, Nov. 20, 2007

Nov. 19 was the first day that cattle from Canada could enter the United States under the new "minimal risk” determination.

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service published the final rule, entitled "Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy; Minimal Risk Regions; Importation of Live Bovines and Products Derived From Bovines," on Sept. 18, 2007.

The rule establishes import conditions for all cattle and bison, including those 30 months of age or older, and establishes the effective date of the Canadian ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban as March 1, 1999.

Effective Nov. 19, 2007, the following live ruminants may be imported into the United States from Canada:

Bovines for immediate slaughter: Bovines born on or after March 1, 1999, may be imported if they are accompanied by an official Canadian health certificate which states they were born on or after March 1, 1999; have an official Canadian ear tag; and meet all of the other import health requirements.

They must be consigned directly in a sealed conveyance to a slaughtering establishment approved by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to receive bovines for immediate slaughter. The list of plants approved to receive animals for immediate slaughter can be obtained by contacting the National Center for Import and Export (NCIE).
Bovines for other than immediate slaughter: Bovines born on or after March 1, 1999, may be imported if they are accompanied by an official Canadian health certificate which states they were born on or after March 1, 1999; have a permanent "CAN" brand or tattoo; have an official Canadian ear tag; and meet all of the other import health requirements.

On the first day of trade under the new determination only one load of cows destined for a U.S. packing plant crossed the border. Four additional loads heading for a different plant were held at the border pending clarification of the paperwork.

According to USDA sources, normalization of trade with Canada has had minimal impact on the live cattle markets. USDA will continue to monitor daily the movement and impact of Canadian cattle coming into the U.S. over the days and weeks ahead.