"I'm pleased with the Canadian government's decision to lift import restrictions regarding bluetongue for ruminant animals imported from the United States.

"We have worked closely with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to provide scientific assurances that Canadian livestock will continue to be protected against the introduction of bluetongue, a disease generally observed in certain regions of the United States during late summer and early fall.

"Canada has had restrictions associated with bluetongue in place for decades for ruminant animals imported from the United States. However, as scientific knowledge of the disease has grown, the risk associated with it has been reassessed several times.

"CFIA's decision to lift import restrictions regarding bluetongue on all classes of cattle, sheep, deer, goats and other ruminants imported year round into western Canada from any state in the United States will significantly reduce the burden on U.S. livestock producers shipping ruminants to Canada by allowing for year round importation on all classes of ruminants and eliminating costly bluetongue testing requirements."