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last update:Nov 4, 2008
Canada: pork producers criticise US law
Beef and pork producers want Ottawa to start trade actions
against the United States over a new law that is already starting to shut their
livestock out of American markets, writes John Cotter for The Canadian
Press.
Since Washington's country-of-origin labelling law went
into effect on Oct. 1, a growing number of meat plants in the US are refusing to
accept Canadian cattle and hogs for processing.
Challenge US
lawThe Canadian Cattlemen's Association and the Canadian Pork
Council are calling on the federal government to challenge the US law under the
North American free-trade agreement and World Trade Organisation rules. They
warn failure to get the law repealed will drive some Canadian producers out of
business, reduce livestock herds and cost the two industries an estimated
$800-million a year.
Under country-of-origin labelling, Canadian cattle
and pigs must be segregated in US feedlots and packing plants, prompting some
firms to only deal with American livestock. Canadian animals are also required
to have more documentation about where they came from, and in the case of
cattle, the animals must have tags that indicate they are free of mad cow
disease.
The presidents of both the cattlemen's association and the pork
council wrote letters to Prime Minister Stephen Harper last week, urging the
federal government to take action. Together the two groups represent about
100,000 producers.
Estimated lossThe pork council
said US hog processing companies have indicated they will no longer purchase
hogs born outside of the States. Other US processors have said they will only
buy Canadian pigs on certain days at selected plants. The council estimates the
pork industry will lose about $350-million a year if the law remains on the
books.
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said Ottawa wants to influence the
US legislation by working with the American lawmakers and industry. “I would
caution that if the federal government is taking the view that it must have
concrete evidence of the adverse impact of COOL before approaching the US, very
valuable time will be lost and any solution could come too late for the Canadian
swine industry.”
“We have made it clear to the United States that we will
consider all our options, including actions under both the North American Free
Trade Agreement and World Trade Organisation provisions, but right now we have a
window of opportunity to influence the COOL regulations before they become final
and we are focused on that,” Ritz said in an e-mail statement.
The US
COOL law that went into effect on Oct. 1 is called an interim final rule. The
final rule is expected to be passed next year.
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