Rules banning the use of cow brain, eyes and spine in all animal feed will be published in the next few weeks, according Andy Mitchell, federal agriculture minister of Canada.

The decision came as a response to an investigation and a CBS TV report that highlighted how cattle can be exposed to feed containing rendered material from other cattle, increasing the risk of spreading BSE.

Using rendered cattle material as protein in feed for chickens and pigs is a long-standing practice. However, with regards to BSE the brain, eyes and spine are considered specified risk materials because they contain the prions that cause the disease. Since 1997 Canada has had a rule in place preventing ranchers from feeding rendered cattle material to other cattle but otherwise allowing its use.

A single case of the mad cow disease was found in Alberta last year and subsequent investigation found that cows were sometimes exposed to food containing rendered cattle material despite the ban. Federal officials ordered the destruction of any cattle that might have been exposed to feed containing protein from the infected animal. Finally, the government mandated the removal of all specified risk material from cattle destined for human consumption.

The Canadian Health Coalition has said the only way to stop the transmission of BSE is to stop the recycling of animal protein. The National Farmers Union has recently issued a news release calling for the same thing.

Canada's beef industry has been in crisis since the case of BSE was found.

International borders have remained shut to imports of live Canadian cattle, costing the industry millions and leading to a backlog of animals on farms right across the country.

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