April 24, 2012, Ottawa: Today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it has detected bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a dairy cow from central California. The USDA investigation is ongoing.
Canada continues to effectively manage BSE through a series of integrated safeguards designed to protect both human and animal health. These include prohibiting specified risk materials from entering the human food and animal feed chains and testing cattle for BSE.
This finding will not affect trade between the US and Canada. Both countries have implemented science-based measures to protect animal and human health. In addition, US officials have confirmed that no part of this animal’s carcass entered the food system.
Samples are being sent to the international BSE reference laboratories in Canada and the United Kingdom to confirm and further characterize the results.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) recognizes Canada as "controlled risk" country for BSE. This status clearly acknowledges the effectiveness of BSE controls on both sides of the border.
For details on the USDA’s announcement, visit:
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2012/04/0132.xml&contentidonly=true
