Imports of Canadian cattle into the U.S. have been banned for two years in an effort to keep mad cow disease out of the country, but that ban has now been lifted by a U.S. federal appeals court.
The ban went into effect in May of 2003 after a cow was found to have the disease. While the issue is still a concern to some, the imports are expected to start within a matter of days.
The unanimous decision by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturns a Montana judge who blocked the USDA from reopening the border in March, saying it “subjects the entire U.S. beef industry to potentially catastrophic damages” and “presents a genuine risk of death for U.S. consumers.” The justices said they would issue another ruling explaining their rationale.
The decision came a day after the Justice Department urged the appeals court in Seattle to reopen the border to imports. Justice Department attorney Mark Stern said lifting the ban is based on “good science” and would not result in the “infestation in American livestock.”
“USDA did not provide significant justification for overturning a long-standing policy that protected both the U.S. cattle herd and U.S. consumers from the introduction” of the disease, said Bill Bullard, executive director of the Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund.
A hearing is scheduled for July 27 in a Montana court to discuss the arguments of this case. R-CALF, the group who got the imports banned in the first place, may take the case to the Supreme Court.
Chris is a staff writer for murdok. Visit murdok for the latest ebusiness news.
