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News from Rep. Stephanie Herseth
For Immediate Release
Contact: Russ Levsen, 202-226-4449

HERSETH URGES AG SECRETARY JOHANNS TO KEEP CANADIAN BORDER CLOSED TO CATTLE OVER 30 MONTHS

Possible New Discovery of BSE Underscores Need To Keep Safeguards in Place - Herseth to Request Hearings in House Ag Committee

April 13, 2006, Washington, D.C. - Following reports of a new possible discovery of BSE in Canada, U. S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth today wrote Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, urging him to keep the border closed to cattle over 30 months in age. Recent press reports suggested that USDA is considering a new federal rule that would allow all cattle from Canada to enter the United States, regardless of age. The border is currently closed to cattle older than 30 months.

Herseth wrote, "The possibility of yet another BSE-infected cow in Canada again raises legitimate questions about that country's implementation of its regulations and safeguards intended to control the spread of BSE in its domestic herd. This is particularly true given the fact that the animal in question is only six years old - born several years after Canada was supposed to have a strict ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban in place. These circumstances demand a careful examination of Canada's feed ban enforcement before we permit the liberalization of trade rules for Canadian cattle. In the meantime, this discovery is a strong indication that the rationale for the 30-month rule continues to exist."

In the letter, Herseth also conveyed her intention to call for oversight hearings in the House Agriculture Committee, on which she sits, to review the appropriateness of USDA's current import rule and to explore the adequacy of Canada's ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban and specific issues surrounding its implementation.

The entire text of the letter is appended.

April 13, 2006

The Honorable Mike Johanns
Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20250

Dear Secretary Johanns,

I am concerned with recent press reports indicating your intention to issue a new federal rule that would allow all cattle from Canada to enter the United States, regardless of age. I am writing in strong opposition to such a rule change, particularly in light of today's announcement by Canadian agriculture officials that they may have discovered a fifth case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

The possibility of yet another BSE-infected cow in Canada again raises legitimate questions about that country's implementation of its regulations and safeguards intended to control the spread of BSE in its domestic cattle herd. This is particularly true given the fact that the animal in question is only six years old - born several years after Canada was supposed to have a strict ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban in place. These circumstances demand a careful examination of Canada's feed ban enforcement before we permit the liberalization of trade rules for Canadian cattle. In the meantime, this discovery is a strong indication that the rationale for the 30-month rule continues to exist.

I urge you to shelve any proposed rule changes that USDA may be considering that would allow the importation of Canadian cattle older than 30 months into the U.S., and to reexamine the enforcement of the Canadian feed ban. I also plan to request hearings in the House Agriculture Committee to review the appropriateness of USDA's current import rule and to explore the adequacy of Canada's ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban and specific issues surrounding its implementation.

Thank you for your prompt response to this request.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Herseth
United States Congress

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