Asia Pacific | US says Japan beef ban remains top concernWASHINGTON, April 1 ...
Asia Pacific
US says Japan beef ban remains top concern
WASHINGTON, April 1 (Reuters) - U.S. trade officials rejected on Thursday the need for private firms to test cattle destined for export to Japan because of fears over mad cow disease, and urged the country to live up to its WTO obligations.
Japan to reject Veneman's latest effort to restore trade
The Japanese government will reportedly reject the Agriculture Department's latest and most comprehensive effort to convince them to reopen their borders to U.S. beef, making it unclear whether the Japanese are at all willing to compromise on their demand that 100 percent of U.S. beef bound for export to their country be tested for bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
Europe
UK: No BSE risk from older cattle, say scientists
Scientists have reiterated that it is now safe for UK consumers to eat meat from cattle over 30 months old, but a ban on such meat entering the food chain is unlikely to be lifted just yet.
USA
Statement by Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman and U. S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick Regarding Beef Trade with Japan
"We are disappointed that the Japanese response to our proposal was conveyed through the press instead of engaging in constructive dialogue about the merits of the proposal. We urge the government of Japan to agree to an OIE consultation and to assure that its measures are consistent with its international commitments as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)." Click to Read Letter to Japanese Agriculture Minister Yoshiyuki Kamei PDF File Size 126 KB (requires Adobe Acrobat)
USDA asking meat industry about safety methods
WASHINGTON, April 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. Agriculture Department wants more information on how the meat industry will remove cattle brains and spinal cords from its product supply to prevent mad cow disease, a government official said on Thursday.
Creekstone ready to test all cattle for mad cow
WASHINGTON, April 1 (Reuters) - Creekstone Farms Premium Beef has spent heavily to build a private laboratory in anticipation of winning government approval to test all of its slaughtered cattle for mad cow disease, a company executive said on Thursday.
Washington This Week on AgWeb: USDA Working on Beef Trade
4/01 - U.S. Frustration With Japan on Beef Trade Growing: USDA Secretary Ann Veneman and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick today released the following statement relative to U.S. efforts to restart beef trade with Japan
R-CALF's DeBruyker says Aussie FTA will hurt U.S. producers
Brett DeBruycker, trade committee vice-chairman of R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America, testified Tuesday against the Australian Free Trade Agreement before the International Trade Commission in Washington, D.C., noting direct and indirect subsidies to beef producers around the world have artificially lowered the cost of production and unfairly increased the volume beef available.
FSIS seeks additional comment on BSE sanitation procedures
The Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service is seeking comment regarding its January 12 Federal Register notice announcing a series of interim final rules to protect the meat supply against bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
Asia Pacific
US says Japan beef ban remains top concern
WASHINGTON, April 1 (Reuters) - U.S. trade officials rejected on Thursday the need for private firms to test cattle destined for export to Japan because of fears over mad cow disease, and urged the country to live up to its WTO obligations.
Japan to reject Veneman's latest effort to restore trade
The Japanese government will reportedly reject the Agriculture Department's latest and most comprehensive effort to convince them to reopen their borders to U.S. beef, making it unclear whether the Japanese are at all willing to compromise on their demand that 100 percent of U.S. beef bound for export to their country be tested for bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
Europe
UK: No BSE risk from older cattle, say scientists
Scientists have reiterated that it is now safe for UK consumers to eat meat from cattle over 30 months old, but a ban on such meat entering the food chain is unlikely to be lifted just yet.
USA
Statement by Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman and U. S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick Regarding Beef Trade with Japan
"We are disappointed that the Japanese response to our proposal was conveyed through the press instead of engaging in constructive dialogue about the merits of the proposal. We urge the government of Japan to agree to an OIE consultation and to assure that its measures are consistent with its international commitments as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)." Click to Read Letter to Japanese Agriculture Minister Yoshiyuki Kamei PDF File Size 126 KB (requires Adobe Acrobat)
USDA asking meat industry about safety methods
WASHINGTON, April 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. Agriculture Department wants more information on how the meat industry will remove cattle brains and spinal cords from its product supply to prevent mad cow disease, a government official said on Thursday.
Creekstone ready to test all cattle for mad cow
WASHINGTON, April 1 (Reuters) - Creekstone Farms Premium Beef has spent heavily to build a private laboratory in anticipation of winning government approval to test all of its slaughtered cattle for mad cow disease, a company executive said on Thursday.
Washington This Week on AgWeb: USDA Working on Beef Trade
4/01 - U.S. Frustration With Japan on Beef Trade Growing: USDA Secretary Ann Veneman and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick today released the following statement relative to U.S. efforts to restart beef trade with Japan
R-CALF's DeBruyker says Aussie FTA will hurt U.S. producers
Brett DeBruycker, trade committee vice-chairman of R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America, testified Tuesday against the Australian Free Trade Agreement before the International Trade Commission in Washington, D.C., noting direct and indirect subsidies to beef producers around the world have artificially lowered the cost of production and unfairly increased the volume beef available.
FSIS seeks additional comment on BSE sanitation procedures
The Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service is seeking comment regarding its January 12 Federal Register notice announcing a series of interim final rules to protect the meat supply against bovine spongiform encephalopathy.