Canada has imposed an immediate ban on cattle imports from Texas following an outbreak of New World screwworm, a parasitic infestation that can cause fatal tissue damage in livestock. The decision, announced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Monday, raises serious questions about the integrity of North American beef supply chains and the risk of cross-contamination with British herds. The screwworm, a fly larva that feeds on living flesh, has been detected in cattle in the southern United States, prompting Canada to restrict all bovine imports from Texas.
The outbreak has already led to quarantine measures in several US states and has disrupted trade flows worth billions of dollars. British officials, already grappling with post-Brexit border checks, are now facing added pressure to reinforce biosecurity protocols. The UK imported approximately 2,000 tonnes of US beef last year, but the risk of screwworm entering British farms is low, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
However, experts warn that globalised livestock trade means no nation is immune. Canada's move is a pre-emptive strike, but it underscores the fragility of agricultural biosecurity in an interconnected world. The outbreak, if not contained, could reshape international beef markets and force a fundamental reassessment of livestock movement controls.
