I got a call this morning from a guy I hunt with and he said he had heard something about the US placing a ban on the importation of meat from grazing animals in Canada, including wild game such as caribou and Moose as well as all the others. Also said he heard they would not even allow the importation of trophies(antlers) unless they were free of blood and meat.

I have been on the run all day but I haven't been able to locate anything on it.

Anyone one know anything about it and if so,

It is going to kill a lot of businesses,
WHo is going to spend $mucho dinero$ and not be able to bring back the meat or head?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jay McAninch

July 3, 2003

(866) 266-2776, ext. 7



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USDA OKs Trophy Imports from Canada
Hunters who visit Canada can bring back antlers, skull plate and hide/cape, but no meat under new USDA policy.
WASHINGTON, D.C. � Hunters who travel to Canada this fall can�t bring back meat, but they will be allowed to import up to two sets of antlers, the skull plates and the cape/hide from big-game they harvest, under a policy change announced this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In late May, in response to the discovery of mad cow disease in an Alberta cow, the USDA banned the import of all ruminant animals from Canada, as well as all parts of ruminant animals. The ban, although aimed primarily at domestic livestock, also included big-game animals from Canada, except for bears. As a result, hunters who had booked Canadian hunts this fall for deer, elk, moose, caribou, sheep, bison or mountain goat were considering canceling their trips.

Although the new policy still prohibits hunters from bringing back meat from big-game animals, it�s less likely there will be mass cancellations of Canadian hunting trips.

�We�re relieved the USDA made accommodations for hunters so they can resume planning for their trips,� said Jay McAninch, president and CEO of the Bowhunting Preservation Alliance and Archery Trade Association. McAninch discussed the original ban with USDA officials, and is pleased the department crafted a compromise to allow hunters to bring back some parts while ensuring no contaminated parts could be brought across the border.

�We�re disappointed our hunters still can�t bring meat home with them, but we�re happy we could find some middle ground,� McAninch said. �At least now they can bring home some mementoes from their trip. During our discussions we also emphasized the profound impact a total ban would have had on Canadian outfitters if their American clients started canceling hunts.�

Prions � the mutated protein thought to cause chronic wasting disease and mad cow disease � have never been found in beef or venison, even in animals that carried the disease. Even so, the USDA advises hunters to clean as much meat as possible from the cape/hide and skull plate. Customs border inspectors will examine trophy parts to ensure little or no tissue remains on those parts. Any part with excessive amounts of tissue still intact can be refused entry into the United States.

As of this time you may not even bring back prepared lunch meat from Canada. It is badly written law and we hope it changes soon. This puts a real crimp in Deer, Elk and Moose hunting.

The GOABC is working on it in BC and recommending that the meat be cut and wrapped in Canada and frozen until such time as it can be shipped over the border. I would assume that other Associations are following a similiar plan.

This definitely has the smell of bureaucrat to it. I called yesterday to re-order vaccine for the farm, and I can't get any: it's grown on a beef substrate in Canada, and they won't let it in! Funny thing is, the substrate they use is from the US! This better get straightened out, or it's going to cost me big time.

F'ing bureacrats. Dutch.

If Canada had supported the US in Iraq and if they weren't helping shove the Gay Marriage thing forward don't you guys think the Meat Import Ban would be over by now? Definately politics.

I have a friend who buys feeder cattle here in UT and other states, then he ships them to Canadian Feedlots. I bet he is just about to die over not being able to bring them back.

We don't have BSE ("mad cow disease)in the US, but Canada had it turn up. The only known way to stop the spread is to destroy the herd and burn the carcasses. Remember the whoop-te-do in England? The Department of Agriculture absolutely does not want this to get loose here. CWD in the deer and elk herds is bad enough.

There is a lot of information available on the Internet with a bit of searching.

jim dodd

Jim, I understand that. For crying out loud, I'm not even allowed to donate blood anymore because I lived in Western Europe too long. But banning elk meat to prevent BSE is a stretch. To ban a vaccine, well, that stretch takes either a politician or a bureaucrat LOOKING for something. JMO, Dutch.

Hi lots of info but I'll hit the highlights for you.

1 One 7 year old cow sent to rendering, not slated for the food system, was found to have BSE
The borders are instantly shut down and those knowing nothing about BSE also decide to ban CWD bearing animals too.

2 After slaughtering thousands of cows this one and only one cow was said to be in contact with no other animals were found up to 3 rings out.
Some of these rings extended into the US as the food systems are virtually the same.

3 It is speculated that BSE IS a natually occurring disease, in about 1 of 13 million animals affecting those over the age of 3 years and this was probably one of those. The US has stated it believes the food system in Canada secure and wants to open the border.

4 Japan has said that if the US opens its borders to Canada it will ban US beef exports to Japan.
Here is where it gets political. . .

Right now it remains mainly a japanese pushed issue as was stated above. I live within sight of the border and have been across it since this fiasco started and have yet to be asked if I had any other meat besides beef. Whatever that means?

As to the political issues with Canada showing no support in the recent war, It is most likely a factor. Unfortunately, those most effected by these border closures are Ranchers who raised and donated thousands of dollars to take out ads in international publications (U.S. publications) to show their support in spite of the Gov's lack thereof. These same individuals also held pro U.S. rally's and tried to show support anyway possible.

I hope this is resolved soon as my family and many friends are in trouble if it doesn't.

Chuck

The ban on game meat was lifted yesterday, but complete heads still cannot be taken across the border. - Dan

USDA Lifts Ban on Certain Ruminant Products from Canada



TUCSON, Ariz., Aug. 8, 2003 � SCI, the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide, applauds Ann M. Veneman, Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture, for announcing this afternoon that �USDA will no longer prohibit the importation of hunter-harvested wild ruminant products intended for personal use and it will begin to accept applications for import permits for certain products from Canada.� For months, SCI representatives have been working with government officials to get the ban on hunted game meat lifted.

Saying USDA experts have thoroughly reviewed the scientific evidence, which �indicates no measurable risk to public health,� Secretary Veneman called for international dialogue to develop a practical, risk-based approach to trade.


�This is great news,� said SCI President Gary Bogner. �The USDA has heard the concerns of North America�s hunting community and the advice of wildlife biologists. It has completed exhaustive research and acted both thoughtfully and swiftly.�



According to the USDA, hunters will need a �Veterinary Services Special Permit for the Importation of Hunter-Harvested Wild Ruminant Meat,� along with a valid Canadian export certificate for game meat, or a copy of a valid hunting license or valid hunting tag. The permit can be downloaded from http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/bse/bse.html or obtained by calling the APHIS National Center for Import and Export at 301-734-3277.



Merle Shepard, SCI�s Government Affairs Committee chairman, added, �Responsible and ethical hunting involves using as much of the harvested animal as possible. While the USDA�s original concerns for public safety in the US are understandable, blocking the lawfully harvested importation of venison constitutes a tragic waste that thankfully has been avoided.�



The temporary ban was introduced as a safeguard on May 20, 2003, following discovery of a case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalophy, or �mad cow disease� in a cow in Alberta, and affected hunter harvests even though there is no scientific evidence that BSE is readily transmissible to moose, deer, elk and other ungulates.

In July the USDA published a memo clarifying the ban it imposed soon after finding the Canadian case of mad cow disease. The memo stated that sportsman were able to bring their harvested and cleaned antlers, skull, plate, hide and cape back with them. However, at the time meat was still prohibited from importation.



Last year, SCI produced and distributed through state wildlife agencies and outdoor sports retail stores Facts About CWD, a brochure educating more than one million hunters about Chronic Wasting Disease.



Mad cow disease and CWD are both members of the same family of diseases that affects the brain and neural tissue of those afflicted. Both diseases are fatal to affected animals, and are caused by a mutated protein called a prion. While mad cow disease can jump species and affect humans, years of study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health, many universities and about a dozen state public health agencies have found no evidence showing that CWD can be transferred to humans. For more information on CWD, go to www.sci-foundation.org/cwd.



Now that the USDA has acted, sportsmen and women are able to bring their lawfully harvested venison back home for their personal use. �With deer season just around the corner,� finished Bogner, �this decision is just in time.�



The USDA�s announcement says a rulemaking process will �begin immediately for the importation of live ruminants and ruminant products,� and notes that it will begin to accept applications for import permits for boneless sheep or goat meat from animals under 12 months of age; boneless bovine meat from cattle under 30 months of age; boneless veal from calves that were 36 weeks of age or younger at slaughter; fresh or frozen bovine liver; vaccines for veterinary medicine for non-ruminant use; and pet products and feed ingredients that contain processed animal protein and tallow of non-ruminant sources when produce in facilities with dedicated manufacturing lines.



SCI � First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. This chapter driven, nonprofit association is a tireless advocate for the world�s 45 million sportsmen and sportswomen, who, through legal hunting, annually drive more than $1.7 billion in funding to conserve all wild species. For more information, call 520-620-1220 or visit www.scifirstforhunters.org.



Contact: Jim Brown

520-620-1220, ext. 477; 520-954-0581 (cell)

jbrown@safariclub.org

Shaka, thanks for the update. Dutch.