Vet fined for BSE non-inspection
STAFF
A Manitoba veterinarian has been fined $10,000 for certifying uninspected cattle for export. Dr. Earl Van Assen pleaded guilty in a Winnipeg court to two counts of contravening the federal Health of Animals Act. Court was told Van Assen submitted certification documents in Feb. 2009 for 42 cows shipped to the United States, stating they were suitable for export. But he did not inspect all the animals himself, taking the word of the farmer instead. BSE regulations require Canadian vets must certify that cattle exported to the U.S. are born after March, 1999.
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