Meat from Canada

[Darkwolf]

A couple of years ago an outbreak of mad cow in five canadian beef cattle caused a massive closure of all ungulate (cow, sheep, deer, etc.) imports into the U.S. That ban has since been lifted on game animal meat but has (at the urging of trade-protectionist U.S. ranching interests) been retained for commercial beef imports.

However, there is also a problem concerning game fish in B.C. that might have a similar bearing. The U.S. cutoms will not allow any uninspected sports-caught fish (and possible game meat) into the country. Alaska, to deal with this matter has set-up a system of game fish inspection done at the fish packers or lodges to accomodate this restriction.

In Canada, however, inspection is done through the Federal ministry of agriculture, only at approved facilities, and the ministry catagorically refuses to institute a "two-tiered" set of inspection proceedures for commercial and sports interests. Since the few over-worked inspectors only have regulations for inspection of commercial food products, inspection is denied to sports-caught fish. Thus, for the moment, B.C. sport-caught fish is denied entry to the U.S.

This is threatening the livelihood of Canadian fishing lodges, the future of which falls on deaf ears in Ottawa since the reigning Liberal party is opposed to "bloodsports" and sporting lodges are in non-liberal voting ridings.

It is possible that this regulation is also applicible to game meat.

I'd check with U.S. customs about the issue.