Mad Cow Disease and Beef Trade - ARCHIVED

This paper examines Canada's beef exports and imports throughout the early days of the beef export ban that came into effect on May 20, 2003. The Canadian beef export market was worth about $4.1 billion in 2002. These exports dropped to virtually zero in June, July and August after the implementation of a worldwide ban on Canadian beef products following the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) - more commonly known as mad cow disease - in a single cow. Canadian beef imports increased above historical levels in June before dropping in July and August. Canadian beef imports have not been trivial: they accounted for about $900 million in 2002 or almost 30% of the beef and veal consumed in Canada.