CALGARY, (April 19, 2004) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today it will ease a ban on Canadian beef even further-marking the first real signal in months that the U.S. may soon reopen its border to live Canadian cattle.

Effective today, the agency is lifting the remaining restrictions on beef imports to include all edible beef products from Canadian cattle under 30 months — including ground beef, bone-in and processed products. Only boneless beef from cattle under the age of 30 months were permitted across the U.S. border since last September.

The move opens the door to another $170 million in Canadian beef exports to the U.S., a spokesperson for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said.

The news is welcomed by Canadian beef industry officials, who say the extra product opens the door to another $170 million in Canadian beef exports to the U.S.

The United States is currently reviewing public comments on a proposal to readmit live Canadian cattle, which have been banned since the discovery of mad cow disease on an Alberta farm last May.

— from Canadian Press