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Cattlemen Could See Negligible Risk Status For BSE

Canada is one step closer to having the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) recognize Canada as having Negligible Risk Status for BSE.
 
The President of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, Bob Lowe, says the recommendation by the OIE's Scientific Commission to grant Canada the negligible status for BSE risk is an important first step.
 
Dennis Laycraft, the Executive Vice President of the CCA says that status will help open the door to lifting some restrictions and being able to move more products into some key markets.
 
"Korea still has under 30 months, Taiwan, under 30 months, we're going through a progressive opening with China. And there are a few others around the world that have maintained that under 30 months. So hopefully, you know we'll get to where that is no longer required of those countries."
 
Laycraft says receiving the OIE's Negligible Risk Status for B-S-E is important for Canada
 
"There are a few countries where we're still not able to sell offals. And there are some where we're still restricted to under 30 months beef. Under the OIE code we should be able to sell to those because we do remove the specified risk material, but with a number of countries they've held back, and we believe with the negligible risk status, we can get rid of those last few remaining restrictions."
 
Final approval is subject to a vote at the 88th General Assembly of the OIE in May.
 
The CCA has worked closely with the Federal Government to see this application come to fruition.
 
Member countries now have 60 days to ask for any information included in the BSE dossier from Canada.
 
Lowe says the CCA respects the OIE review process and will await the final determination in May.
 
Canada's last reported case of BSE was in 2015, stats show that Canada tests about 30,000 cattle a year through the BSE Surveillance Program.
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