PREMIER INVITES AMBASSADORS TO SASKATCHEWAN

Premier Lorne Calvert has invited Japanese Ambassador Kensaku Hogen and Korean Ambassador Ki-ho Chang to visit Saskatchewan and witness our beef production and food safety systems firsthand.

In two separate phone calls to the ambassadors today, Premier Calvert discussed the issue of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). He impressed upon the ambassadors that the scientific investigation is complete and that it supports the fact that this discovery was an isolated incident.

"The science behind the BSE investigation in Canada has proven that our food is safe and poses no threat to people in Canada or around the world," Calvert said. "The U.S., Japanese and South Korean markets are all very important to our industry. I urge all of them to use the same international standards and a science-based approach toward a resumption of normal trade in cattle and beef."

The borders for Saskatchewan's major markets remain closed. Japan has formally requested of the United States that all US beef exports to Japan have country-of-origin certificates guaranteeing that those exports do not contain any Canadian beef.

Japan and South Korea are themselves very important trading partners with Canada. In 2002, Canadian exports to Japan and South Korea totaled $10.4 billion. Imports totaled $20.3 billion.

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For More Information, Contact:

Rob Cunningham Media Services Regina Phone: (306)787-6349 Cell: (306)539-1126