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Vanclief said at a news conference this morning the cow had been tested for BSE after an Alberta inspector had condemned the animal after it exhibited symptoms of pneumonia and was underweight. Preliminary tests were inconclusive, but the diagnosis was confirmed today by a British laboratory. The remaining members of the Alberta herd will be destroyed and samples of all these animals will be tested for BSE. The cow was an 8-year-old which spent its last three years on an Alberta farm, according to the Food and Drug Agency (FDA). USDA Secretary Ann Veneman released a statement, which read in part: “I have spoken with Canada's Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lyle Vanclief a short time ago about Canada's investigation and feel that all appropriate measures are being taken in what appears to be an isolated case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Information suggests that risk to human health and the possibility of transmission to animals in the United States is very low. “USDA is placing Canada under its BSE restriction guidelines and will not accept any ruminants or ruminant products from Canada pending further investigation. We are dispatching a technical team to Canada to assist in the investigation and will provide more detailed information as it becomes available.” The safeguards in place in the United States have prevented and continue to prevent BSE cases in America. Effective implementation and enforcement of sound, science-based measures are designed to prevent BSE in the United States. This includes import restrictions, a ban prohibiting the import of ruminant animals from countries with confirmed cases since 1997, and active surveillance since 1990 at four times the level recommended by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE). The Secretary Veneman release can be read in full at: http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2003/05/0166.htm A release from the FDA is at: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2003/NEW00908.html More information on BSE can be found at: http://www.bseinfo.org/
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Vanclief said at a news conference this morning the cow had been tested for BSE after an Alberta inspector had condemned the animal after it exhibited symptoms of pneumonia and was underweight. Preliminary tests were inconclusive, but the diagnosis was confirmed today by a British laboratory. The remaining members of the Alberta herd will be destroyed and samples of all these animals will be tested for BSE. The cow was an 8-year-old which spent its last three years on an Alberta farm, according to the Food and Drug Agency (FDA). USDA Secretary Ann Veneman released a statement, which read in part: “I have spoken with Canada's Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lyle Vanclief a short time ago about Canada's investigation and feel that all appropriate measures are being taken in what appears to be an isolated case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Information suggests that risk to human health and the possibility of transmission to animals in the United States is very low. “USDA is placing Canada under its BSE restriction guidelines and will not accept any ruminants or ruminant products from Canada pending further investigation. We are dispatching a technical team to Canada to assist in the investigation and will provide more detailed information as it becomes available.” The safeguards in place in the United States have prevented and continue to prevent BSE cases in America. Effective implementation and enforcement of sound, science-based measures are designed to prevent BSE in the United States. This includes import restrictions, a ban prohibiting the import of ruminant animals from countries with confirmed cases since 1997, and active surveillance since 1990 at four times the level recommended by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE). The Secretary Veneman release can be read in full at: http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2003/05/0166.htm A release from the FDA is at: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2003/NEW00908.html More information on BSE can be found at: http://www.bseinfo.org/
USMEF Member Benefits
USMEF Provides Members Increased Conference Call Savings
USMEF has partnered with Premiere Conferencing to offer members increased savings on all audio and Web conference calls. Any USMEF member may now utilize Premiere Conferencing rates of $0.15 per minute on all domestic conference calls. Premiere Conferencing was chosen by USMEF for its responsive customer service, national support and excellent rates - which saved USMEF more than 50% compared to previous provider rates. Now these savings can be passed on to USMEF members.
Premiere’s personalized, cost-effective service is easy to initiate through the quick enrollment page at /MembersOnly/PremConfInfo.asp. If you have any additional questions, you may contact our Premiere Conferencing account representative Kelly Vargas at kelly.vargas@premconf.com.