050131 U.S. Checks Canada’s Cattle Feed Rules

Washington - A U.S. technical team led by the country's chief veterinarian heads north early to study the latest mad cow case and Canada's compliance with cattle feed rules in a process that could take several weeks. But the team's work won't change the March 7 deadline for resuming trade of Canadian cattle, even if they aren't finished by then, said Jim Rogers, a spokesperson for the U.S. Agriculture Department.

"This is not expected to affect the date to reopen the border," Rogers said yesterday. "The law would have to be changed to keep it closed."

"It would require a (lengthy) process, just like you saw to open it."

Former U.S. agriculture secretary Ann Veneman said this week there's no apparent reason to make any changes.

Veneman, who led efforts to safeguard the U.S. food supply and resolve the trade dispute after Canada's first mad cow case in May 2003, has been replaced by Mike Johanns.

Agriculture officials agreed late last year to resume trading cattle and allow more beef products before confirmation came that two more Canadian cows had developed the disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

"We examined the potential for additional cases in Canada," Rogers said. "It was not unexpected.

"Besides, this is not just about Canada. It's about having a system that will show the world that there is a way to allow trade with a country that's had a couple cases of BSE."

Japan, once a big buyer of North American beef, is signalling it may resume imports.

This week, Japanese officials agreed to speed up scientific collaboration with Canada in efforts to end the ban and a U.S. official said American producers could also soon regain limited access to the $1-billion US market.

After the third Canadian BSE case was confirmed this month, American officials said they wanted to take a look for themselves.

John Clifford, the U.S. Agriculture Department's chief veterinarian, will lead a nine-member team of experts who may arrive as early as Monday.

While U.S. officials have expressed confidence in Canada's safety measures, some ranchers and politicians are pressing Washington to delay reopening the border.

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