Rankin Inlet (June 02/03) - The Government of Nunavut wants the United States to reconsider a ban on caribou and muskox meat.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture barred the meat in the wake of the mad cow investigation in Alberta.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said last week that while the single BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) afflicted animal is "an isolated case," the ban on all ruminant animals or meat products will remain for now. A ruminant is any hooved animal that chews its cud.

Rosemary Keenainak, assistant deputy minister in the GN's Department of Sustainable Development, said the ban on caribou and musk-ox is "unfair" and unnecessary.

Keenainak said the Coral Harbour caribou harvest is too far removed from the Alberta beef industry to make any connection possible.

The GN has asked Lyle Vanclief, federal minister of agriculture and agri-food, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, among others, to help lobby for an exemption to the ban. About 250,000 pounds of caribou meat, valued at about $500,000, is harvested in the Coral Harbour area annually.

The meat is shipped to Kivalliq Arctic Foods in Rankin Inlet for processing.

The company is owned by the Nunavut Development Corporation (NDC).

The NDI's Brian Zawakski said the plant had a $34,000 shipment of caribou meat turned back at the U.S. border last week.

"We had already invoiced the customers, but obviously they still don't have their meat," said Zawadski.

The meat, re-frozen in Rankin Inlet after processing, is in storage in Winnipeg while the company awaits developments.

"It is interesting that when you listen to the Canadian news, all you hear is the impact this is having on the cattle business," said plant manager Brian Schindel.

"We don't hear that it's also affecting many other exports, such as the people who are exporting bison and elk in the South, and, of course, our Arctic caribou."

Schindel said he is hopeful the U.S. will lift the ban shortly if no more BSE-afflicted animals are found.

That doesn't appear likely with the decision last week to slaughter six more beef herds in British Columbia and Alberta for testing.

The "specialty cut" caribou meat sold by Kivalliq Arctic Foods in the U.S. accounts for about 20 per cent of the plant's annual production, said Zawadski.

He said if the ban continues the company will use the caribou meat it has in inventory for different products produced for the Canadian market.

Zawadski said losing 20 per cent of its market is a "serious hit" but the plant isn't yet contemplating layoffs.

About 20 workers could be affected.

"All we can do right now is wait and see what develops."