Asia Pacific | USMEF Makes Efforts To Improve Access For U.S. Beef | USMEF ...

Asia Pacific

USMEF Makes Efforts To Improve Access For U.S. Beef

USMEF visited with representatives in Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong this week in efforts to increase understanding of U.S. beef manufacturing processes that have led to defects found in recent U.S. beef shipments to those countries.

USMEF Vice President Asia Pacific Joel Haggard and USMEF Assistant Director Export Services Kevin Smith provided examples of defects that can occur during the manufacturing process and stressed these items were not food safety issues.

They also talked with the countries about actions taken when defects are found in U.S. beef shipments, hoping the countries would agree to reject only the products that violate the trade agreement and accept the remaining shipment.

Currently, when Hong Kong finds a U.S. beef defect that violates the trade agreement, it will no longer accept any beef from that U.S. plant. Hong Kong has delisted two U.S. beef plants, with the latest delistment occurring today.

USMEF found in its meetings with country representatives that food safety is not the issue; it is the United States' non-compliance with the trade agreement that must be resolved.

The trade agreements call for import of boneless beef from cattle aged 30 months and under. The defects violate the boneless clause in the agreements.

Asia Pacific

USMEF Makes Efforts To Improve Access For U.S. Beef

USMEF visited with representatives in Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong this week in efforts to increase understanding of U.S. beef manufacturing processes that have led to defects found in recent U.S. beef shipments to those countries.

USMEF Vice President Asia Pacific Joel Haggard and USMEF Assistant Director Export Services Kevin Smith provided examples of defects that can occur during the manufacturing process and stressed these items were not food safety issues.

They also talked with the countries about actions taken when defects are found in U.S. beef shipments, hoping the countries would agree to reject only the products that violate the trade agreement and accept the remaining shipment.

Currently, when Hong Kong finds a U.S. beef defect that violates the trade agreement, it will no longer accept any beef from that U.S. plant. Hong Kong has delisted two U.S. beef plants, with the latest delistment occurring today.

USMEF found in its meetings with country representatives that food safety is not the issue; it is the United States' non-compliance with the trade agreement that must be resolved.

The trade agreements call for import of boneless beef from cattle aged 30 months and under. The defects violate the boneless clause in the agreements.