OTTAWA, July 15 (UPI) -- U.S. imports of Canadian cattle are to resume following a U.S. federal court's dismissal of arguments that such imports could spread mad cow disease.
The reopening of the borders for the imports was announced by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Michael Johanns immediately after the court's ruling Thursday which overturned a lower court decision, Canada Press reported.
However, the ban, which went into effect in May 2003, could be re-imposed based on the outcome of a U.S. congressional hearing this month about making the ban permanent.
Johanns said U.S. officials have contacted the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to start certifying cattle for shipment. Canadian officials expect the cattle truck to roll next week.
The import ban was imposed in May 2003, when Canada discovered its first case of mad cow disease. The ban has cost Canadian beef producers about $7 billion.
