Washington ? Expressing confidence in the safety of Canadian beef, the Bush administration said Thursday it would stand by its decision to renew Canadian beef imports beginning in March despite a possible new case of mad cow disease.

The Agriculture Department said that even if the Canadian cow was confirmed positive for mad cow disease, public health measures in Canada and the United States would protect U.S. livestock and consumers.

“Because of the mitigation measures that Canada has in place, we continue to believe the risk is minimal,” said Ron DeHaven, administrator of the department’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

A day after the United States announced that with some restrictions it would reopen its borders to Canadian beef, the Canadian government on announced Thursday it might have another case of mad cow disease. It said preliminary screening of a “downer” cow — one unable to walk — showed multiple positive results for mad cow. Definitive tests have yet to be completed, Canadian officials said.

Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., called the decision “outrageous” and accused the Agriculture Department leadership of caring “more about the interests of mega feed lots and processors than the interests of farmers, ranchers and consumers.”

U.S. imports of Canadian beef were halted 19 months ago after the discovery that a dairy cow in Washington state — which had been born in Canada — had mad cow disease.