Quebec’s Superior Court has authorised a class action lawsuit claiming that the Canadian government jeopardised public safety during the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and that its mishandling of the situation has also had significant financial implications.

The ruling affects approximately 20,000 Quebec farmers. Other cases seeking compensation have been filed in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

The first case of BSE in the country was discovered in Alberta in May 2003, which led to a ban on Canadian beef exports from 30 countries until 2005.