Nova Scotia Pleased U.S. Border Opening to Canadian Cattle

The agriculture community has finally received some good news regarding the reopening of the United States border to Canadian cattle, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Chris d'Entremont said today, July 15.

The ruling, delivered on Thursday, July 14, in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, overturned a temporary injunction issued by the District Court of Montana that banned the import of Canadian cattle. The United States Department of Agriculture and the government of Canada both argued there is no basis in science to keep the border closed.

The border has been closed to most Canadian cattle since May 2003, when a single case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was discovered.

"We look forward to our continued positive trade relationship," said Mr. d'Entremont. "Since the border closure two years ago the cattle industy has restructured and, as a result, is much stronger and unified, particularly with regards to processing abilities. Nevertheless the industry has suffered greatly and it will take some time to recover."

Collectively the governments of Nova Scotia and Canada provided more than $22 million to help the Nova Scotia cattle and ruminant industry through this crisis.

It is not clear what impact the decision will have on a July 27 hearing scheduled for a Montana court, where a judge will hear arguments on making the injunction permanent. In the meantime, cattle can start moving across the border as soon as today, July 15.

"Nova Scotians have shown great support for our local beef industry and I trust this will continue," said Mr. d'Entremont. "We produce safe, high-quality product and consumers want that."

Over the last two years Canadian consumers have remained loyal to Canadian beef, lamb and other ruminant products.