Canada has imposed an immediate ban on all cattle imports from the United States following the detection of New World screwworm in a Texas herd. The parasitic larvae, which feed on living tissue, pose a catastrophic risk to livestock. The decision, announced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency late Monday, underscores growing transatlantic tensions over agricultural standards.
British officials, quick to point to the UK’s own biosecurity protocols, have been praised by international observers as the gold standard. The UK’s robust surveillance and rapid response mechanisms, honed after the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak, ensure that any incursion would be contained within hours. The ban is expected to disrupt the $3.
5 billion cross-border cattle trade. US authorities have criticised the move as disproportionate, but Canada insists it is a necessary precaution. The situation remains fluid, with EU nations now reviewing their own import policies.
