US bioterrorism rules go too far

Title: <a href="/article/235929761-us-bioterrorism-rules-go-too-far" target="_blank">US bioterrorism rules go too far</a>
Category: <a href="/topics/74-canadaus-border" target="_blank">Canada-U.S. Border</a>
Written By: <a href="/profiles/N Say" target="_blank">N Say</a>
Date: Monday, March 24 at 08:12 
This sounds like total overkill.... they're just chocolates! 
 
U.S. fears halt tours of Rogers' chocolate factory 
Katherine Dedyna, Times Colonist 
Published: Sunday, March 23, 2008 
 
Local school children and seniors groups have had to kiss goodbye to the sweetest tour in town: the Rogers' Chocolate factory in Saanich. 
 
The factory has been a no-go zone for tour groups for 18 months in order to meet U.S. government bioterrorism regulations aimed at safeguarding the American food chain -- where a lot of Rogers' chocolates end up. 
 
In the aftermath of Sept. 11, the U.S. BioTerrorism Act requires that food manufacturing facilities that export to the U.S. limit access to outsiders, said Kate Phoenix, Rogers' vice-president of marketing and sales. <a href="/article/235929761-us-bioterrorism-rules-go-too-far">read more >></a>

"For Rogers' Chocolates to get expedited border clearance, all staff would be subjected to security clearance -- a step the company has chosen not to take."

Obviously Rogers has competition inside the US market that does not want to see outside competition coming in. So much for NAFTA as usual.

The US government itself was responsible for the 9/11 attacks, and it has gone completely insane, so stop shipping to the US and find other markets.

Well before you get knots in your toga...

This just sounds like another non-tariff trade barrier. This sort of thing occurs from time to time with such things as exporting pigs, pork or pork products. The BSE thing was largely such a matter.

It is one of the ideosyncracys of the US.

However, such a bio-hazard protocol makes some sense.........if it is practiced in the US as well.

"This just sounds like another non-tariff trade barrier."

It's but only one example of why "free trade" between Canada and the USA will never work, and why NAFTA should be dropped ASAP.

"It is one of the ideosyncracys of the US."

If taken literally, it looks like a disease of the mind that has manifested itself into an irrational fear of mythical beings known only as 'terrists'.

"However, such a bio-hazard protocol makes some sense.........if it is practiced in the US as well."

It's paranoid insanity beyond any sense of reason. We're talking about kids touring a chocolate factory!

I'm sure that the terrorists of the world are quaking in their boots at the mountains of regulations that prevent them from...

It's regulation in lieu of actual safety. It's what law makers are paid to do.

Bin Laden must be laughing his ass off right about now ! Why you ask, well he has won the war that's why. Just take a moment and think about how life has changed in the U S since the 911 event. How many civil liberties gone, such as wire taps with no warrant needed etc etc. Much greater police powers, and the president states that the American Constitution is just a piece of paper. look what you have to go through just to board a plane to go on vacation for fuck sake! The trillions of dollars gone to an illegal war, and the economy is in the toilet, WTF. We're joined at the hip with the U S of A here in Canada so hang on for the ride everybody.

on a recent flight on a canadian aircraft.. we were told we could not group or congregate over american air space.. a new rule that came in to force in jan..
so as you may guess many people had to go to the toilet..but you cant line up.. so it was difficult for some older folks who had frequency... so if your on a flight of say 4-5 hrs over the USA you might ask the airline to provide urnals.

An excellant example of a non-tariff barrier....was the BSE scare. I had border agents enquiring as to the nature of my lunch. You actually had to show them--produce it. Ham sandwiches OK but baloney a no-no. Never had them seize my lunch though. LOL!