2.02: Opening of Switzerland ?!!

(From Chp. 2 ~ 1967, titled "The Dream Lives," in a book begun several years ago by SMSmith to document the early history of SBL and Simmental in North America.)

A portion of the dynamics leading to the opening of Switzerland for Canadian importation is documented in the letters reproduced herein.

It was a tense time for the SBL shareholders. On the one hand they were forging ahead with their cattle selection in Switzerland, while on the other, they could not get a commitment from the Canadian government as to whether permits would be issued for even France, because of reported foot-and-mouth problems cropping up throughout Europe. The problems were compounded by a Swiss decision to vaccinate all calves over 6 weeks of age as a control measure, commencing on February 15. If exemptions weren't granted for the proposed Canadian exports, it would leave the Swiss cattle selectors for SBL with a limited choice of calves born January or later as only they would escape the vaccination program.

In addition, the Swiss were approaching France for transit permission to allow selected unvaccinated Swiss cattle intended for Canada to be transported through France to the Brest Quarantine facility as Switzerland, being landlocked, did not have any port facility available. The French were not responding with the haste required to ease everyone's minds. The politics of it all had to be considered as well. If the foot-and-mouth outbreak in the south of France closed France to exports for the 1967 year, it was highly doubtful France would consent to the transit of Swiss animals to their Brest Quarantine facility. It was also highly doubtful that Canada would close France and yet use its Quarantine facility for Swiss cattle in the unlikely event that a closed France allowed the transit of Swiss cattle.

Under date of March 6, 1967 the CDA advised the anxious importers that senior Canadian veterinary officials would be visiting France and Switzerland in early May to assess the disease situation and to determine if any imports would be allowed at all.

Nonetheless, the CDA was receiving numerous applications for import permits, one being an application by Travers Smith to import three head of Simmental cattle from Switzerland which was acknowledged by the CDA under date of March 8, 1967. But with other applications from SBL shareholders also pending, SBL and the Swiss were anticipating that SBL would be importing 4 bulls and 6 heifers if SBL shareholders could get the desired number of permits.

At last, under date of 18 March 1967, the Swiss Veterinary authorities advised the Canadian Veterinary Department that France's transit permission had been obtained. But that did not take care of the foot-and-mouth problems nor the looming date of May 15 when all unvaccinated Swiss calves that had escaped the prior vaccination order would be subject to vaccination. Such vaccination would entirely compromise the SBL cattle selection. In addition, it would make it virtually impossible for any other interested importer to import from Switzerland in 1967 as they would have no access to unvaccinated calves of sufficient age to enter the testing and quarantine timeline.

Then another hair-pulling missive arrived—the senior Canadian Veterinary official would not be able to make his health-inspection trip to France and Switzerland until May 15. The Commission of Swiss Cattle Breeders' Federation had no recourse but to seek a delay of vaccination for the SBL selected animals. It was just one hurdle after another.

But the CDA letter to Travers under date of May 2, 1967, with its 7-page "1967 Conditions for the Importation of Cattle from France and Switzerland" proved a bright note. Switzerland was almost open!! Everything now rested on whether disease conditions would be favorable for both countries. If France failed, there would be no imports from either place. If France passed the Canadian health inspection, then hopefully Switzerland would too—and all would be in order.