Ag Minister on the move - Horay

[rusty1]

BOB SPELLER (Agriculture minister)
I'm announcing today also an increase in consultation with our industry and trading partners on feed and surveillance measures. I have spoken with US Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman today to discuss the current situation and continue to make Canada's case for reopening of the US border based on the sound scientific rationale.

We have arranged a face-to-face meeting in Washington on January the 16th. I will be inviting provincial and industry representatives to join me as part of a trade mission to Japan, South Korea and Mexico where I will meet with senior representatives of key trading partners in an effort to reopen borders to Canadian beef.

[pandiana]

Senator Tom Daschell (sp) has just announced that he will lobby to havethe border closed to all beef, including what is now moving freely. He says that it is clear that Canadian beef is at a high BSE contaminated and that in the interest of food safety for the American consumer, the border should be closed.

In addition, I read somewhere this am that they are also looking to an early implementation of Country of Origin Labelling. This will probably have a similar affect on Canadian imports with "Product includes Canadian beef' stamped on every package.

[ValueChainFX]

Under the stamp "Proud To Serve Canadian Beef" we should be including in the small print

*tested and certified BSE free*

[topper]

I sure do agree with you on that valuechain. Why are we so scared of the americans labeling their beef, our beef can compete with anybody in the world we should be proud to have our name on it. I see the americans are tossing around the idea of testing only beef destined for Japan. If we don't move to testing all beef we are going to be left in the yanks dust begging for leftovers. Its time to test all and label it "Certified Bse Free Canadian Beef".

[rusty1]

Now hold it a minuet. Lets just suppose that BSE has a mineral deficiency connection. And it may have, there is good logic (not proven but logical) {what is proven} that the prions come from this mineral imbalance. Testing everything (Cline says that will cost $30M) We are going to find lots more BSE old crocks, with no possible way to do anything about it. When you say "we are going to test everything" why - to demonstrate we are concerened about food safty. That's and admission to Pied Pipers rats that we have a known problem, but we'll try and plug the hole. The BIG message we need to be hollering about is the FACT that BSE is not a human health issue. Since when have you been able to buy a spinal roast or buy a package of brains for your scrambled eggs.

[Cathy]

Back in November a friend of mine living in Jacksonville Florida told me she bought steak labled product of Canada.
thought at the time that sounded weird.
Are thay labaling now?
And was that old meat as in pre May?
I did not think we were shipping steak.
Am I wrong?
Cathy

[boone]

COOL (country of origin labelling) has been discussed for at least a year, and would you believe one of the groups that spoke against it were large american beef and pork suppliers because they felt Canadian beef etc. would be able to underprice exposed label U.S. beef in all the trade uses, such as hospitals, restaurants, retirement homes etc. because the noname would have better price points and no house wife get's to gaze lovingly through the showcase at it. Remember I'm talking 6 months pre Alberta BSE finding. However; they are now probably talking out of the other side of their mouth. Strange days indeed.

[boone]

topper: that can't possibly work it makes way to much sense to stream a flow of animals through a designated plant. Someone might have to conceed a % share of their market and so we will all do nothing till be starve to death standing here.

[ALICIA]

We realy do not have a choice. Eather way our catttle are not moving. The news is not saying the cow was born in Canada but left at 4 months old. Its say born in Canada...
Does it not seem strange to you that BSE is in both the beef herds and our dairy herds. Plus the fact that a American was behind the discovery of both cases. It smells to me.
We have too, I belive that there is nothing wrong with my cows, and I believe that there isn't an farmer or ranch that believe there is anything wrong with there cows eather. Way do you not believe in your own herd.
If we don't believe in our own cattle then we beter give up now because in 4 months it will have been a year. The writing is on the wall and nobody believes word of mouth, they want it in writing. So testing is the only way and were the chips fall, let it because there is know movement and we can't keep doing nother but talking, action is were its at.
Get it done before there are know farms left.

[cakadu]

>:-) Playing devil's advocate here - on what basis are we going to "certify BSE free"? What science are we going to base it on? There have been all kinds of posts to the various threads about the validity, completeness and reliability of the science and how reliable it is depending on which side of the 49th parallel one is sitting on.

I am not against the testing at all. I wonder who will foot the bill, what will become acceptable and what we will do if there are more cases of it found. It seems to me that we have to be prepared to deal with both the good and the bad of the testing.

[cakadu]

>:-) Playing devil's advocate here - on what basis are we going to "certify BSE free"? What science are we going to base it on? There have been all kinds of posts to the various threads about the validity, completeness and reliability of the science and how reliable it is depending on which side of the 49th parallel one is sitting on.

I am not against the testing at all. I wonder who will foot the bill, what will become acceptable and what we will do if there are more cases of it found. It seems to me that we have to be prepared to deal with both the good and the bad of the testing.

[les]

The story on the news tonight was Cline wants to go on its own and test every animal and label it ALBERTA BEEF and he said it would cost about 900,000 a year.It sounded like he was pickin up the tab. This sounds good to me.

[les]

oops...Last thread should read Cline wants Alberta to go on its own

[ALICIA]

Test every animal. Pass test goes to Japan, Fall test goes in garbage and on to the next cow. End of problem. KNOW longer a heath food issue because all animals going for food has passed a negitive test results.
And know cross cantamination because equipment is stearlized after each cut on different animal.

[cowman]

I don't believe any cows are being killed in federally inspected plants in Alberta right now? I think Xcel was killing them in Calgary until they opened up the border to muscle cuts? Maybe the same with IBP in Brooks?
I think the plant in MooseJaw is the only cow plant right now?
I suspect Ralph was probably just floating a balloon to let the Americans know we do have options? I see Clay Serby and the Man. ag minister immediately ripped Ralph...guess they are afraid they might have to follow if Ralph leads?
I do believe COOL will be tough in the short term but will force us to do things that will ultimately be very good for us. Keep some of the "value adding" in this country? Force us to build some more packing houses?(Hopefully not American owned)
I do believe the label "Canadian Beef Certified BSE free" is a good thing!