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BSE
BSE Report Published By USDA
A BSE report by the USDA’s Foreign Animal and Poultry Disease Advisory Committee’s Subcommittee on the U.S. Response to the Detection of a Case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy was published online today. The subcommittee concluded that the epidemiological investigation into the origin of the BSE case conforms to international standards, although it was limited by the cattle identification systems in place in North America.
The report noted that the actions taken to locate and eliminate the index herd (and other herds where imports were located) conveyed the false impression that BSE is contagious. The approach adopted by the USA in targeting the offspring of the index case born within the two years prior to clinical onset, however, is in agreement with Office International des Epizooties (OIE) recommendations.
The report also made the point that the majority of BSE-related risk material from the index case (e.g. brain, spinal cord and other tissues normally categorized as Specified Risk Materials or SRM) was rendered and did not enter the human food chain.
The report found it likely that the single case of BSE in Washington state may be the only infected animal from the Canadian herd of origin that survived to adulthood.
The report recommended that the epidemiological investigation should cease, and resources be redirected into the planning, implementation and enforcement of an extended, targeted, surveillance program and other measures to protect human and animal health.
BSE Seminar Reaches Consensus On Restoration Of U.S. Beef Trade
As more than 250 industry officials, scientists and regulatory authorities gathered in the nation’s capital on February 3 for a day-long seminar on BSE developments, a consensus was reached on the need to move quickly to restore international trade in U.S. beef products.
The event's co-sponsors, the American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF), the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and USMEF, called the federal government’s response to the single case of BSE in Washington state “extraordinary,” noting that the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration had increased surveillance, enacted new feed restrictions and launched a fast-track program to develop a national animal identification and traceback system.
"These measures go well beyond what is called for under international standards,” said AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle. “They reflect the U.S. government’s commitment to reassuring consumers and trading partners that we are doing everything possible to protect U.S. herds from this animal disease.”
In opening remarks to an audience of industry and regulatory officials from more than a dozen countries, Boyle stressed that, “a single case of BSE does not constitute an epidemic” and should not result in "the isolation of U.S. beef from international trade."
Boyle said that the OIE standards “must show the way” on resumption of beef exports, and urged U.S. trading partners to focus on “the real risks, versus the perceived ones.”
NCBA officials emphasized that BSE is an animal disease -- not a food-safety issue. “The measures USDA put in place since Dec. 23 [2003] have strengthened our firewalls and provided additional assurances that U.S. beef is safe,” said Terry Stokes, NCBA executive director.
Later, during a special press conference, USMEF Vice President, Information Services Lynn Heinze said that members of all beef industry segments have stood “shoulder to shoulder” on the issue of restoring trade. “We have taken aggressive action to control BSE in this country," he noted, "and we are now calling on our trading partners to lift the ban on U.S. beef.”
Ron DeHaven, D.V.M., APHIS deputy administrator for veterinary services, said that trade bans on U.S. beef are not founded on science and thus are inconsistent with the OIE Code, which identifies the proper response to a finding of isolated BSE based on accepted risk assessment guidelines.
A full account of the seminar can be read online.
BSE
BSE Report Published By USDA
A BSE report by the USDA’s Foreign Animal and Poultry Disease Advisory Committee’s Subcommittee on the U.S. Response to the Detection of a Case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy was published online today. The subcommittee concluded that the epidemiological investigation into the origin of the BSE case conforms to international standards, although it was limited by the cattle identification systems in place in North America.
The report noted that the actions taken to locate and eliminate the index herd (and other herds where imports were located) conveyed the false impression that BSE is contagious. The approach adopted by the USA in targeting the offspring of the index case born within the two years prior to clinical onset, however, is in agreement with Office International des Epizooties (OIE) recommendations.
The report also made the point that the majority of BSE-related risk material from the index case (e.g. brain, spinal cord and other tissues normally categorized as Specified Risk Materials or SRM) was rendered and did not enter the human food chain.
The report found it likely that the single case of BSE in Washington state may be the only infected animal from the Canadian herd of origin that survived to adulthood.
The report recommended that the epidemiological investigation should cease, and resources be redirected into the planning, implementation and enforcement of an extended, targeted, surveillance program and other measures to protect human and animal health.
BSE Seminar Reaches Consensus On Restoration Of U.S. Beef Trade
As more than 250 industry officials, scientists and regulatory authorities gathered in the nation’s capital on February 3 for a day-long seminar on BSE developments, a consensus was reached on the need to move quickly to restore international trade in U.S. beef products.
The event's co-sponsors, the American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF), the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and USMEF, called the federal government’s response to the single case of BSE in Washington state “extraordinary,” noting that the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration had increased surveillance, enacted new feed restrictions and launched a fast-track program to develop a national animal identification and traceback system.
"These measures go well beyond what is called for under international standards,” said AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle. “They reflect the U.S. government’s commitment to reassuring consumers and trading partners that we are doing everything possible to protect U.S. herds from this animal disease.”
In opening remarks to an audience of industry and regulatory officials from more than a dozen countries, Boyle stressed that, “a single case of BSE does not constitute an epidemic” and should not result in "the isolation of U.S. beef from international trade."
Boyle said that the OIE standards “must show the way” on resumption of beef exports, and urged U.S. trading partners to focus on “the real risks, versus the perceived ones.”
NCBA officials emphasized that BSE is an animal disease -- not a food-safety issue. “The measures USDA put in place since Dec. 23 [2003] have strengthened our firewalls and provided additional assurances that U.S. beef is safe,” said Terry Stokes, NCBA executive director.
Later, during a special press conference, USMEF Vice President, Information Services Lynn Heinze said that members of all beef industry segments have stood “shoulder to shoulder” on the issue of restoring trade. “We have taken aggressive action to control BSE in this country," he noted, "and we are now calling on our trading partners to lift the ban on U.S. beef.”
Ron DeHaven, D.V.M., APHIS deputy administrator for veterinary services, said that trade bans on U.S. beef are not founded on science and thus are inconsistent with the OIE Code, which identifies the proper response to a finding of isolated BSE based on accepted risk assessment guidelines.
A full account of the seminar can be read online.