07/19/05 Opening border to Canadian beef imports

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns says USDA is doing all if can to reopen the border to Canadian cattle. First rules and procedures have to be issued, then approved product lists have to be updated prior to cattle being ready for inspection. JOHANNS "USDA is communicating with state veterinarians, US importers, US port officials and Canadian officials to assure all criteria for importing are clear." With a limited number of packing plants in the Northwest now the Canadian ban has had a big impact on them. Jim Butler is a USDA Deputy Undersecretary. BUTLER "As the trade begins and it won't all occur at once, it will be phased in over time we hope that would allow some of these employees to come back, go to work. It would allow some of these plants to maintain, possibly expand." But there's another potential cloud on the horizon. That's in the form of another court hearing on the border situation which is set for July 27th. Johanns knows there's a possibility that the border could be shut off again. JOHANNS "We have argued all along that this rule is carefully constructed, thoughtfully put together based upon a through risk analysis and that science was on our side." Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott