Caribbean | USMEF Effort Results In Paperwork Reduction | USMEF partnered wit...
Caribbean
USMEF Effort Results In Paperwork Reduction
USMEF partnered with Nebraska Corn Board last October to host a team of chief veterinary officers (CVO) from the Caribbean to let them see how the U.S. cattle and meat industry works to produce some of the world’s safest and highest quality meat products. The team discussed safety, animal identification and meat inspection with USDA. They also visited a meat processing facility, feed manufacturer and feedlot in Nebraskato see U.S. food safety protocols and technology in practice.
The objective of the trade team visit was to encourage Caribbean island policy makers to move away from export verification (EV) programs and grant full access for U.S. beef and beef products. Before the team visit, any island with an EV program automatically had instituted a second signature requirement for all shipments of beef from the United States in the form of a statement of verification (SOV) letter from AMS in addition to the FSIS export certificate. The second signature step creates shortages and delays in exporting product and raises prices for importers and downstream consumers.
As a result of the trade team visit, the Cayman Islands and the Dominican Republic have eliminated the SOV letter requirement. St. Kitts & Nevis is in the process of issuing a letter to AMS to eliminate the SOV letter as well.
Follow-up negotiations continue to proceed between USDA and CVOs who participated in the trip.
Caribbean
USMEF Effort Results In Paperwork Reduction
USMEF partnered with Nebraska Corn Board last October to host a team of chief veterinary officers (CVO) from the Caribbean to let them see how the U.S. cattle and meat industry works to produce some of the world’s safest and highest quality meat products. The team discussed safety, animal identification and meat inspection with USDA. They also visited a meat processing facility, feed manufacturer and feedlot in Nebraskato see U.S. food safety protocols and technology in practice.
The objective of the trade team visit was to encourage Caribbean island policy makers to move away from export verification (EV) programs and grant full access for U.S. beef and beef products. Before the team visit, any island with an EV program automatically had instituted a second signature requirement for all shipments of beef from the United States in the form of a statement of verification (SOV) letter from AMS in addition to the FSIS export certificate. The second signature step creates shortages and delays in exporting product and raises prices for importers and downstream consumers.
As a result of the trade team visit, the Cayman Islands and the Dominican Republic have eliminated the SOV letter requirement. St. Kitts & Nevis is in the process of issuing a letter to AMS to eliminate the SOV letter as well.
Follow-up negotiations continue to proceed between USDA and CVOs who participated in the trip.