GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO EXPEDITE CATTLE SHIPMENTS TO CANADA


                                            Release No. 0379.97


                                    Tom Amontree (202) 720-4623
                                          tom.amontree@usda.gov
                              Eric Van Chantfort (202) 720-9443
                                      vanchantfort@fas.usda.gov

GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO EXPEDITE CATTLE SHIPMENTS TO CANADA

     WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman and
Canada today announced implementation of the Northwest Pilot Project aimed
principally at expediting shipments of live cattle from Montana and
Washington state to Canada.  Under this initiative, Canada will revise its
animal health import requirements for live cattle entering from
participating U.S. states.

     "I am very pleased that we were able to work closely with Montana and
Washington, U.S. and Canadian cattle producers, and Canadian officials to
reach this agreement," Glickman said.  "The Northwest Pilot Project will
help expand U.S. cattle exports to Canada, improving sales and prices for
Washington and Montana ranchers."
     
     This project will facilitate the movement of cattle from areas of
recognized low risk for certain animal diseases.   A Montana State
University study estimated that up to 270,000 head of feeder cattle per year
could be shipped from Montana to Canada under the pilot program. 

     Under the pilot project, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will
designate special feedlots in Canada which will be eligible to import U.S.
feeder cattle without tests for anaplasmosis, bluetongue, brucellosis, or
tuberculosis.  On the U.S. side, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) agreed to recognize Canada's disease-free status for
brucellosis and tuberculosis for this pilot project, waiving the usual
import testing requirements.  Montana and Washington also amended their
brucellosis vaccination requirement for imported animals.
     
     "This cooperative approach to resolving trade issues and reducing
impediments holds a lot of promise," Glickman said.  "We intend to work with
our Canadian counterparts and other state governments in an effort to expand
this project, so that our other cattle-producing states might also benefit
from easier access to the Canadian market."  

     Agreement on the Northwest Pilot Project resulted from discussions
involving Canadian officials, trade policy and animal health specialists in
USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service and APHIS, state officials in Montana
and Washington, and industry representatives.

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