Canada, Mexico and the United States have agreed on a single North American standard for the import and export of cattle to prevent the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, according to Andy Mitchell, Canada's Minister of Agriculture.

The standard was negotiated in Mexico during recent trade meetings, reflects guidelines laid out by the World Organization for Animal Health and essentially holds that as long as specified risk materials (SRMs) are removed from all imported cattle at the time of slaughter, and that no cattle from herds that have experienced any cases of BSE are allowed to be exported, live cattle can move across borders without significant risk to consumers.

Mitchell called the accord, "a very important agreement between the three countries." Michell added that with the new standards in place, Canada will reopen its border to U.S. cattle effective today.

The agreement does not negate the lingering U.S. ban on Canadian cattle. Although the U.S. border was scheduled to reopen earlier in March, that move was barred due to an injunction by a Montana court.

Mexico has said that it will now begin a regulatory process that will lead to its acceptance of Canadian cattle. Canadian officials expect that process to take three to four months.