WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Canada's latest possible
case of mad cow disease is not expected to cause the United
States to rescind its plans to resume imports of Canadian live
cattle, a U.S. Department of Agriculture official said on
Thursday.
"We don't anticipate it would have any impact," said USDA
spokeswoman Alisa Harrison. She explained that during a long
agency review of whether to reopen the U.S. border to Canadian
live cattle, regulators took into account the possibility of
additional cases of mad cow disease in Canada and steps Ottawa
had taken to guard against the spread of the illness.
On Wednesday, USDA announced it would reopen the border to
Canadian cattle imports on March 7. Cattle trade from Canada
was closed in May, 2003, after Canada discovered its first
domestic case of mad cow disease.
case of mad cow disease is not expected to cause the United
States to rescind its plans to resume imports of Canadian live
cattle, a U.S. Department of Agriculture official said on
Thursday.
"We don't anticipate it would have any impact," said USDA
spokeswoman Alisa Harrison. She explained that during a long
agency review of whether to reopen the U.S. border to Canadian
live cattle, regulators took into account the possibility of
additional cases of mad cow disease in Canada and steps Ottawa
had taken to guard against the spread of the illness.
On Wednesday, USDA announced it would reopen the border to
Canadian cattle imports on March 7. Cattle trade from Canada
was closed in May, 2003, after Canada discovered its first
domestic case of mad cow disease.
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