050115 S.D. Reps Says Keep Border Closed to Canadian Cattle

Sioux Falls, SD - Reopening the northern U.S. border to Canadian cattle would be "premature and irresponsible" without additional safeguards against mad cow disease, Rep. Stephanie Herseth said.

Canada confirmed the discovery of a second case of mad cow disease on Sunday, days after the United States said it would lift a ban on Canadian beef.

"If the borders reopen with these uncertainties, American cattle producers will be battered by increased imports, lost markets and diminished consumer confidence," said Herseth, D-S.D.

U.S. beef was banned in Japan and more than three dozen other countries in December 2003 after a Canadian-born dairy cow in Washington state tested positive for bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE, commonly called mad cow disease.

Herseth, who serves on the House Agriculture Committee, wrote Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman and asked her to extend the ban.

Herseth said she'll co-sponsor a bill introduced by Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D- N.D., that aims to prohibit the USDA from resuming importation until the United States regains its top 10 export markets.

The ban also should continue until mandatory country-of-origin meat labeling is instituted, she said.

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