BSE                                     ...

BSE                                                                                                

OIE Opposes Beef Bans

The Office International des Epizooties — the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) announced rule changes at a press conference in Paris today that would prevent its members from banning imports of U.S. beef. World Trade Organization (WTO) members are required to adhere to standards set by the OIE unless scientific evidence can be found to oppose a rule.

An OIE official told reporters that boneless beef can be safely exported from countries in all BSE risk categories. The OIE is meeting in Paris this week to reevaluate world standards governing risk classification of countries, which could impact market access for all beef-producing countries.

USDA Under Secretary J.B. Penn told the USMEF BOD meeting: “The United States supports the OIE considering changes to reclassify BSE risk based on the measures a country is taking to prevent BSE rather than the number of cases it has had.”

BSE                                                                                                

OIE Opposes Beef Bans

The Office International des Epizooties — the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) announced rule changes at a press conference in Paris today that would prevent its members from banning imports of U.S. beef. World Trade Organization (WTO) members are required to adhere to standards set by the OIE unless scientific evidence can be found to oppose a rule.

An OIE official told reporters that boneless beef can be safely exported from countries in all BSE risk categories. The OIE is meeting in Paris this week to reevaluate world standards governing risk classification of countries, which could impact market access for all beef-producing countries.

USDA Under Secretary J.B. Penn told the USMEF BOD meeting: “The United States supports the OIE considering changes to reclassify BSE risk based on the measures a country is taking to prevent BSE rather than the number of cases it has had.”