Asia Pacific | UPDATE 1-USDA asks Japan what steps needed to resume tradeWASH...

Asia Pacific

UPDATE 1-USDA asks Japan what steps needed to resume trade
WASHINGTON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - The United States was asking Japan what assurances Tokyo needed to lift its billion-dollar ban on U.S. beef imports in the wake of the first U.S. mad cow case, a senior U.S. Agriculture Department official said on Monday.

Aussie beef to benefit from U.S. mad cow case
Australia's $3.7 billion (Aus.) a year export beef industry is set to cash in on increased demand for its products following the bans by many nations on imports of U.S. beef after the mad cow case in the United States, industry experts said.

Japan rejects U.S. plea for early lifting of beef ban
Japan has rejected a call from the United States for the early lifting of a ban on imports of its beef following the BSE outbreak. Japanese officials told an American delegation that Tokyo needs the U.S. to clarify injection routes for the disease and plan new measures to prevent its spread.

Japanese beef delegation heading to Australia
It's been confirmed that a delegation of Japanese meat buyers are about to visit Australia, to investigate whether we can fill the hole in imports left by a ban on beef from the United States.

Mad Cow impact on free trade deal
There are also questions being raised over what impact the case of BSE might have on a free trade agreement between the United States and Australia.

Americas

UPDATE 1-Canada still hopes to boost beef trade with U.S.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Canada hopes the U.S. mad cow crisis won't hamper efforts to allow more Canadian beef to cross the border early in 2004, Agriculture Minister Bob Speller said on Monday.

USA

USDA sets next mad cow briefing for Tuesday afternoon
WASHINGTON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Agriculture Department said it would hold another news briefing on its investigation into the first U.S. case of mad cow disease on Tuesday at 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT).

USDA Confirms Cow Age, But Hesistant to Confirm Canadian Origin
Agency's top veterinarian talks to herd owner and gets the facts on age, but still waits for DNA to confirm that Canada is the source.

U.S. urges scientific approach to mad cow response
SEOUL, Dec 30 (Reuters) - U.S. officials on Tuesday urged South Korea and other countries that have banned American beef imports after a case of mad cow disease was discovered last week to base meat safety measures on global scientific standards.

Democrats urge ban on sick cattle for US human food
WASHINGTON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Two Democratic lawmakers on Monday said they backed a Senate plan to ban U.S. "downer" cattle, those too sick or injured to walk, from the human food supply as a safety precaution against mad cow disease.

Rep. Kucinich to Introduce Bill in Wake of Mad Cow Incident
Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) said the discovery of BSE in the U.S. is the result of "iirresponsible US agricultural policies." He said BSE in the US is preventable but USDA and the FDA must do more to protect American consumers.

Sen. Dorgan Urges USDA to Continue Ban on Canadian Cattle, Wants COOL
U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) called for major policy changes Monday in the wake of discovery of a case of Mad Cow Disease in Washington state, including a halt to plans to allow resumption of live cattle imports from Canada, a requirement that meat packers identify the country of origin for meat sold in the United States, and increased U.S. inspections of slaughtered cattle.

12/29 USDA BSE Update: Animal Was Born Before Feed Ban
The issue of the age of the Holstein cow in Washington state confirmed to have bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has been resolved, according to USDA Chief Veterinarian Ron DeHaven. In today's USDA BSE situation update briefing, DeHaven explained he personally talked to the Washington herd owner and the owner said he conducted "an extensive search of his records" and found the animal was an older animal when he purchased her in 2001.

Cattle Group Demands Change and Push for COOL
R-CALF wants borders closed and imported live cattle identified by country of origin.

Daily Limit Widens at Livestock Market
Chicago Mercantile tweaks its daily market limits again, for today.

Economic damage to U.S. may be limited
Investigators have tentatively traced the first U.S. animal with mad cow disease to Canada. This could help determine the scope of the outbreak and might limit the economic damage to the American beef industry.

USDA: Recalled meat represents 'zero risk' to consumers
Agriculture Department officials maintain that despite a 10,000-pound recall of meat possibly containing processed parts of a BSE-infected animal, there is no health risk to consumers.

Asia Pacific

UPDATE 1-USDA asks Japan what steps needed to resume trade
WASHINGTON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - The United States was asking Japan what assurances Tokyo needed to lift its billion-dollar ban on U.S. beef imports in the wake of the first U.S. mad cow case, a senior U.S. Agriculture Department official said on Monday.

Aussie beef to benefit from U.S. mad cow case
Australia's $3.7 billion (Aus.) a year export beef industry is set to cash in on increased demand for its products following the bans by many nations on imports of U.S. beef after the mad cow case in the United States, industry experts said.

Japan rejects U.S. plea for early lifting of beef ban
Japan has rejected a call from the United States for the early lifting of a ban on imports of its beef following the BSE outbreak. Japanese officials told an American delegation that Tokyo needs the U.S. to clarify injection routes for the disease and plan new measures to prevent its spread.

Japanese beef delegation heading to Australia
It's been confirmed that a delegation of Japanese meat buyers are about to visit Australia, to investigate whether we can fill the hole in imports left by a ban on beef from the United States.

Mad Cow impact on free trade deal
There are also questions being raised over what impact the case of BSE might have on a free trade agreement between the United States and Australia.

Americas

UPDATE 1-Canada still hopes to boost beef trade with U.S.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Canada hopes the U.S. mad cow crisis won't hamper efforts to allow more Canadian beef to cross the border early in 2004, Agriculture Minister Bob Speller said on Monday.

USA

USDA sets next mad cow briefing for Tuesday afternoon
WASHINGTON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Agriculture Department said it would hold another news briefing on its investigation into the first U.S. case of mad cow disease on Tuesday at 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT).

USDA Confirms Cow Age, But Hesistant to Confirm Canadian Origin
Agency's top veterinarian talks to herd owner and gets the facts on age, but still waits for DNA to confirm that Canada is the source.

U.S. urges scientific approach to mad cow response
SEOUL, Dec 30 (Reuters) - U.S. officials on Tuesday urged South Korea and other countries that have banned American beef imports after a case of mad cow disease was discovered last week to base meat safety measures on global scientific standards.

Democrats urge ban on sick cattle for US human food
WASHINGTON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Two Democratic lawmakers on Monday said they backed a Senate plan to ban U.S. "downer" cattle, those too sick or injured to walk, from the human food supply as a safety precaution against mad cow disease.

Rep. Kucinich to Introduce Bill in Wake of Mad Cow Incident
Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) said the discovery of BSE in the U.S. is the result of "iirresponsible US agricultural policies." He said BSE in the US is preventable but USDA and the FDA must do more to protect American consumers.

Sen. Dorgan Urges USDA to Continue Ban on Canadian Cattle, Wants COOL
U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) called for major policy changes Monday in the wake of discovery of a case of Mad Cow Disease in Washington state, including a halt to plans to allow resumption of live cattle imports from Canada, a requirement that meat packers identify the country of origin for meat sold in the United States, and increased U.S. inspections of slaughtered cattle.

12/29 USDA BSE Update: Animal Was Born Before Feed Ban
The issue of the age of the Holstein cow in Washington state confirmed to have bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has been resolved, according to USDA Chief Veterinarian Ron DeHaven. In today's USDA BSE situation update briefing, DeHaven explained he personally talked to the Washington herd owner and the owner said he conducted "an extensive search of his records" and found the animal was an older animal when he purchased her in 2001.

Cattle Group Demands Change and Push for COOL
R-CALF wants borders closed and imported live cattle identified by country of origin.

Daily Limit Widens at Livestock Market
Chicago Mercantile tweaks its daily market limits again, for today.

Economic damage to U.S. may be limited
Investigators have tentatively traced the first U.S. animal with mad cow disease to Canada. This could help determine the scope of the outbreak and might limit the economic damage to the American beef industry.

USDA: Recalled meat represents 'zero risk' to consumers
Agriculture Department officials maintain that despite a 10,000-pound recall of meat possibly containing processed parts of a BSE-infected animal, there is no health risk to consumers.