06/11/2025

Statement From the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
It is with a sense of relief that the Canadian Cattlemen's Association received the news today that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency CFIA) has completed the necessary slaughter and sampling of cattle in its investigation of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in Canada. All test results received have come back negative. The disease has only been diagnosed in a single cow that was not made into beef.

An international panel brought together to assess Canada's response to this investigation of BSE in a single cow has stated they have never seen such a comprehensive investigation done in such a short time. The Canadian Cattlemen's Association would also like to commend CFIA for the extraordinary job it has done.

Focus now turns to reviewing current policies in place in Canada that ensure the protection of the Canadian food supply and animal health. Canada has for many years had a four-tier BSE safeguard system in place to ensure the safety of beef. The fact that the infected animal did not enter the food supply and did not spread the disease to other cattle is testament to the effectiveness of the Canadian safeguard system. The four tiers in the safeguard system are prevention, surveillance, blocking transmission, and traceback, containment, and elimination.

The Canadian Cattlemen's Association is committed to working closely with government authorities to adopt any enhancements to our safeguard system that are deemed necessary. Our mission is to maintain confidence in our product with customers both in Canada and around the world.

Our immediate goal is to re-open our borders to exports as soon as possible, so that customers around the world may continue to enjoy safe and wholesome Canadian beef.