PREMIERS SHOULD DISCUSS FOOD SAFETY

Saskatchewan's Premier wants food safety to be on the agenda of the Western Premiers Conference June 8th and the Annual Premiers Conference in July.

"The Canadian food safety system is one of the strongest in the world. The system has demonstrated that it can react rapidly when an event occurs," Premier Lorne Calvert said. "Premiers must continue to work together to demonstrate to domestic consumers and our export trading partners that Canada remains committed to the highest standards in food safety."

Premier Calvert added the Government of Saskatchewan is working co-operatively with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to trace and eradicate Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).

Saskatchewan is the second largest cattle-producing province in Canada. The industry has grown dramatically in recent years, generating farm sales of over $1 billion and export sales of approximately $445 million last year. The province is also responsible for over 21 per cent of Canada's live cattle exports to the U.S.

Calvert says the recent closure of Canada's export markets as a result of BSE has had a dramatic impact on the marketing and slaughter of cattle.

"Our food safety system is working, we are addressing BSE and the US should be able to open the border in the near future," Calvert said. "We continue to press the government of Canada to ensure the US is aware of all the actions we have taken to ensure a continued supply of safe, high quality food."

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