Posted on 12/15/2004 1:41:54 PM PST by Calpernia
OTTAWA, December 14, 2004 - The Government of Canada today announced that Cuba has agreed to re-open its border to a broad range of Canadian beef products. The agreement to resume trade follows extensive discussions between Canadian and Cuban animal health and food safety officials since the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Canada.
Effective immediately, Cuba will accept Canadian beef and beef products from cattle of any age with minor exceptions, such as mechanically separated meat, vertebral column, trimmings, and tissues derived from the head. Cuba has also agreed to accept Canadian pet food that does not contain meat and bone meal of ruminant origin. Building on this agreement, Canadian and Cuban officials hope to agree shortly on certification requirements that would permit the importation of live Canadian cattle.
"This is a very important gain for Canada. We continue to make progress internationally, and this agreement further demonstrates the level of confidence that our trading partners have in Canada’s human and animal health safeguards," said Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Andy Mitchell.
Aside from providing immediate economic benefits to Canada, this agreement is important for Canadian exports of beef and beef products to all countries. Cuba joins a growing list of countries that have chosen to more closely align their import policies with the standards of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). These standards clearly state that BSE should not significantly impair trade where proper safeguards are in place, as is the case in Canada.
Cuba is a significant export market for Canada. In 2002, exports of Canadian beef and beef products to Cuba totalled more than $2.2 million.
ping
Shhhh. We're smuggling out liberals in their bellies. :-) Besides, $2.2 million is only a couple thousand cows. At that rate, it'll take at least 100 years to get 'em all out.
>>>>We're smuggling out liberals in their bellies. :-)
ROFL!!!!
::still giggling::
Snickering.
If that's a significant export market for Canada, then they're in worse shape than I thought. The payroll loss of the Expos moving to DC dwarfs that.
I heard Kim Jong-ill invented the 'hamburger' consisting of some ground beef scraps left over from his plate and slapped between two pieces of tree bark...and you know how Castro and ill 'talk'.
Hmm. Canada, Cuba and North Korea...
Canada will be surpassing us in exports soon. While we dink around with the border closed, arguing about the need for animal ID and other forms of isolationist protectionism.
>>>While we dink around with the border closed, arguing about the need for animal ID and other forms of isolationist protectionism.
Speaking of the need for animal ID and borders...I can't help but wonder who would profit the most from the ID system.
The mad cow issue has become the main 'said reason' for the need of the animal IDs. Then I saw this story.
Original story pulled. No longer available online.
Source: www.wisconsinagconnection.com :
Cattle Brain Samples May Have Been Switched at Finland Plant
Wisconsin Ag Connection - Marshfield,WI,USA
Two veterinarians employed by Finland's National Food Agency are on trial, accused of switching cattle brain samples collected as part of the Finland's bovine ... (no other information available at this time)
The hypocrisy arises when those who advocate COOL (country of origin labeling) scream like crazy at individual animal ID. Achieving the former seems pretty worthless without the latter. Yet we see this in the biggest proponents of COOL.
Animal ID systems and the companies that manufacture them would benefit from an ID program. Otherwise there will be lots of costs involved for producers.
>>>Achieving the former seems pretty worthless without the latter.
Sounds like what I thought. Someone just wants to move equipment. ($$$$)
BTT!!!!!!!
related (because beef cattle often are grain-fed):
U.S. Heartland Is Bursting with Corn, Soy
Reuters ^ | Sun Nov 21, 9:53 AM ET | Christine Stebbins
Posted on 11/22/2004 2:54:24 AM PST by ajolympian2004
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1285754/posts
Bunny burgers for the poor?
News 24 ^ | September 21, 2004
Posted on 09/24/2004 9:43:42 PM PDT by Ptarmigan
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1226600/posts
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