Regionalization not appropriate

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 30, 2003

(OTTAWA) - The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) does not support regionalization as a strategy for addressing the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) situation and opening borders to Canadian beef.

“Canada has one of the safest and most stringent food safety systems in the world,” stated Bob Friesen, CFA President. “The position of the CFA and its 21 provincial and commodity group members is: Canadian beef is safe, regardless of the province of origin”

The CFA is responding to comments by Ontario Agriculture Minister Helen Johns, suggesting Eastern Canada ban importation of Western beef and beef products in order to open U.S. borders more quickly.

“CFA members do not support the idea of zoning in an attempt to contain BSE,” said Friesen. “Closing of specific regions may be an appropriate response to a contagious animal disease, but it is definitely not appropriate in this case.”

As the dramatic economic impacts continue to be felt by the entire industry, CFA urges the Canadian government to continue to act diligently and quickly in providing the science needed to enable the U.S. and other countries to lift this ban as soon as possible.

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Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations as well as national and inter-provincial commodity organizations from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.

Contact:

Kieran Green, CFA Communications Coordinator, (613) 236-3633, info@cfafca.ca

Bob Friesen, CFA President, (204) 724-0824 (cell)

Brigid Rivoire, CFA Executive Director, (613) 236-3633 / (613) 715-3113 (cell)