Apparently Canadian feed practices are discussed in the US Senate as a high-risk to the American beef industry. I found this letter from several US Senators asking the USDA to explain America’s plan to prevent the disease from speading south again:

August 3, 2006

The Honorable Michael Johanns
United States Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Johanns:

We are writing in regards to the recent news that the Canadian government has confirmed its fourth positive case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) this year, and that this particular case involved a cow born after Canada enacted certain BSE preventative feed measures. This news is of particular concern to the American beef industry, which is currently undertaking significant steps to improve the competitiveness of U.S. beef in foreign markets.

The unusually high number of BSE outbreaks in Canada this year raises serious questions about Canadian implementation of a 1997 ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban. Current U.S. import protocols allow some commingling of imported Canadian beef with domestic product, which could lead our trading partners to call into question the safety of our beef exports. As recently as 2003, U.S. beef exports were restricted in more than 50 countries when a Canadian-born cow with BSE was discovered in Washington State. All necessary steps must be taken to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

We are encouraged by your July 13, 2006 pledge to send United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspectors to Canada to help thoroughly investigate this most recent case of BSE. However, the potential for negative economic impacts on beef producers throughout the country as a result of possible shortcomings in Canada’s BSE policies may merit a more innovative response from USDA.

As USDA learns more about this recent case of BSE in Canada, please inform us of how your agency plans to address the situation.
Sincerely,

Senator Barbara Boxer
Senator Richard Durbin
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Senator Byron L. Dorgan
Senator Kent Conrad
Senator Russell D. Feingold

Wonder what they mean by “more innovative response” to address “possible shortcomings in Canada’s BSE policies”.