WASHINGTON - Canadian meat, poultry exports after problems at Alberta plant exports following problems at a now bankrupt Alberta meat-packing plant.
The USDA imposed tighter exams and testing of the Canadian products on Nov. 9 over concerns that Rancher's Beef Ltd. was linked to the outbreak of a dangerous strain of E. coli that led to the second largest beef recall in U.S. history.
Audits conducted by the USDA of Canadian meat plants this month have concluded that unsafe practices were limited to the Rancher's Beef Ltd. operation in Balzac, Alta., said USDA official William James.
"The audits indicated the unsafe practices in Rancher's Beef were not employed by other establishments,'' James wrote Wednesday in a letter to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
"The increased testing has not revealed any problems with Canadian products exported to the United States.
"The information from the audits and the increased testing have led us to make the decision to return to normal levels of product examinations and testing.''
James wrote that normal testing will resume for pathogens such as listeria monocytogenes and salmonella. Test levels for E. coli would be at the same level as other countries.
Officials with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Canadian Cattlemen's Association were not immediately available for comment.
The industry was fearful the problems at Rancher's might lead to more stringent testing requirements for Canadian products in the long-term.
Ted Haney, president of the Canadian Beef Export Federation, hailed the USDA ruling.
"This is very good news. Canada was faced with a higher level of testing intensity and it caused trade disruption,'' Haney said from Calgary.
"This letter confirms that the USDA has regained confidence in the Canadian industry and the Canadian food inspection system after completing an industry audit.
"It means that imported Canadian beef is treated no different than beef imported from Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Uruguay and others.''
Rancher's stopped operating in August after owing creditors at least $44 million.
A joint investigation with Canadian and U.S. officials earlier this year matched the DNA fingerprint of E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria isolated from beef trim found in storage at Rancher's and packages of Topps Meat Co. frozen hamburgers. Topps Meats of New Jersey has since gone out of business.
The CFIA was also studying a possible link between the contaminated Rancher's meat and a E. coli outbreak across Canada during the past summer that affected 45 people -- putting 11 in hospital and killing one elderly person.
Canada's meat export business relies on the U.S. as its main customer.