The US Department of Agriculture has proposed lifting its ban on the import of cheaper cattle from Canada, despite Canada's discovery of eight cases of mad cow disease since 2003, including five in 2006 alone, the Chicago Tribune reported.

USDA officials say a recently completed risk assessment of Canada's beef raising and feeding practices shows that US consumers face "minimum risk" from the renewed import of Canadian cattle to the US, the paper reported.

The USDA is accepting comments on its proposed lifting of the ban until March 12, after which the department will make a final decision, the Tribune reported. (Dow Jones & Company, Inc.)