The Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association welcomes an international health ruling on Canadian beef exports.

Last week, Canada was granted negligible risk status for BSE by the World Organization for Animal Health, its the lowest level for transmission of BSE.

Cattlemen’s Association chair Arnold Balicki says the status change is very important.

Balicki says the change in status should improve access to foreign markets for various beef products.

He also hopes it reduces the risk of a new country of origin labelling in the U.S.

The federal government is hoping the ruling will lead to expanded beef exports to such countries as the U.S., Mexico, China and Viet Nam.

Balicki says the economic impact of bse to the beef industry was around 5 billion dollars between the years 2003 and 2006, with limited market access and higher processing costs.

He adds thousands of beef producers also left the industry.

(With files from CJWW)