Member Alert | Japan Beef Export Verification (BEV) Program | Packers And Pur...
Member Alert
Japan Beef Export Verification (BEV) Program
Packers And Purveyors Wishing To Export Under BEV Program Must Submit Program By Monday, August 18
Packers and purveyors wishing to export beef products to Japan under the new USDA voluntary Beef Export Verification (BEV) Program must submit their policies and procedures by next Monday, August 18. Traders exporting directly from U.S. plants will need to ensure that their products come from plants with an approved BEV program in place. U.S. exporters may continue to export processed items under existing rules until details of a program for processed products are worked out. The program for processed product is expected to be in place by November 1.
Packers who also import boxed beef from other countries will now have to segregate these products from U.S. products. The USDA will conduct three inspections per year to monitor compliance. The inspections can be performed without advance notice. Cost is currently set at $64 per hour and is estimate at about $800 per inspection.
Details of the BEV Program are online on the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Web site:
http://www.ams.usda.gov/bevprocedures.pdf
USDA Secretary Ann Veneman's August 9 announcement of the program is available at: http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2003/08/0282.htm
BSE In Canada
Veneman Announces Beef Export Verification
Program For Exports
USDA Secretary Ann Veneman announced on Friday that permits to import boneless beef products from Canadian cattle under 30 months will be accepted immediately, and the USDA hopes to begin approving permits before the end of August. In addition, to satisfy Japanese and South Korean fears of Canadian beef in U.S. shipments a voluntary Beef Export Verification (BEV) Program will be administered by the USDA to certify that beef destined for Japan and South Korea does not contain Canadian beef. Secretary Veneman told reporters that after extensive discussions "it is our understanding that they [Japan and South Korea] are agreeable with what we have outlined today." The Secretary also said that she considered Canadian beef imports, under the new restrictions, completely safe and that the BEV program was not warranted by science but was a temporary measure to satisfy two important markets for U.S. beef.
"We're pleased with the outcome of this trying issue," commented USMEF President & Chief Executive Officer Philip Seng. "U.S. consumers can have complete confidence in the measures taken by the U.S. industry and the USDA to ensure the beef supply is safe. The announcement of the BEV Program gives the Japanese and Koreans the assurance they sought and takes the first step in the resolution of Canada's BSE nightmare.
"I wish to compliment the USDA and our industry partners who worked so hard to make this compromise possible. It will take time and future efforts to make this new situation work, but we strongly support the Secretary's commitment to work with the OIE to ensure a future global response to this complex, evolving issue based on sound science."
Secretary Veneman noted that the single BSE case in Canada and its impact on global trade call for an international dialogue on BSE to develop more practical, consistent guidance to countries regarding the resumption of trade with countries that have reported cases of BSE. Veneman said that the United States, Mexico and Canada have requested that the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) include such a dialogue in an upcoming meeting of international experts in September.
"The current OIE standards have been helpful in guiding countries with their risk mitigation efforts," Veneman said. "But we are continually learning about this disease and the science is advancing. Many countries with and without BSE have taken new steps to control and prevent it. All this places the international community in a much better position today to develop a practical, risk-based approach to addressing safety issues that impact trade. Countries knowing they will be treated consistently and fairly will have greater incentive to conduct appropriate levels of surveillance and reporting of BSE as well as to demonstrate transparency with their trading partners."
Agriculture Ocean Transportation Coalition (AgOTC) - Ocean Transportation Issues. Please submit your individual nominations for the 2003 USMEF Distinguished Service Award to USMEF by this Friday, August 15. Click here to download the DSA nomination form in PDF format. Simply fill out this PDF, save it on your computer and then e-mail it back as an attachment to Tiffani Neitzel at tneitzel@usmef.org. USMEF Board of Directors Meeting - November 5-7, 2003Hilton El Conquistador Resort, Tucson, Arizona BOD Sponsorship Form and BOD Reminder Postcard For more information on BOD Sponsorship, please e-mail John Hinners, Membership Director, at jhinners@usmef.org
Member Alert
Japan Beef Export Verification (BEV) Program
Packers And Purveyors Wishing To Export Under BEV Program Must Submit Program By Monday, August 18
Packers and purveyors wishing to export beef products to Japan under the new USDA voluntary Beef Export Verification (BEV) Program must submit their policies and procedures by next Monday, August 18. Traders exporting directly from U.S. plants will need to ensure that their products come from plants with an approved BEV program in place. U.S. exporters may continue to export processed items under existing rules until details of a program for processed products are worked out. The program for processed product is expected to be in place by November 1.
Packers who also import boxed beef from other countries will now have to segregate these products from U.S. products. The USDA will conduct three inspections per year to monitor compliance. The inspections can be performed without advance notice. Cost is currently set at $64 per hour and is estimate at about $800 per inspection.
Details of the BEV Program are online on the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Web site:
http://www.ams.usda.gov/bevprocedures.pdf
USDA Secretary Ann Veneman's August 9 announcement of the program is available at: http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2003/08/0282.htm
BSE In Canada
Veneman Announces Beef Export Verification
Program For Exports
USDA Secretary Ann Veneman announced on Friday that permits to import boneless beef products from Canadian cattle under 30 months will be accepted immediately, and the USDA hopes to begin approving permits before the end of August. In addition, to satisfy Japanese and South Korean fears of Canadian beef in U.S. shipments a voluntary Beef Export Verification (BEV) Program will be administered by the USDA to certify that beef destined for Japan and South Korea does not contain Canadian beef. Secretary Veneman told reporters that after extensive discussions "it is our understanding that they [Japan and South Korea] are agreeable with what we have outlined today." The Secretary also said that she considered Canadian beef imports, under the new restrictions, completely safe and that the BEV program was not warranted by science but was a temporary measure to satisfy two important markets for U.S. beef.
"We're pleased with the outcome of this trying issue," commented USMEF President & Chief Executive Officer Philip Seng. "U.S. consumers can have complete confidence in the measures taken by the U.S. industry and the USDA to ensure the beef supply is safe. The announcement of the BEV Program gives the Japanese and Koreans the assurance they sought and takes the first step in the resolution of Canada's BSE nightmare.
"I wish to compliment the USDA and our industry partners who worked so hard to make this compromise possible. It will take time and future efforts to make this new situation work, but we strongly support the Secretary's commitment to work with the OIE to ensure a future global response to this complex, evolving issue based on sound science."
Secretary Veneman noted that the single BSE case in Canada and its impact on global trade call for an international dialogue on BSE to develop more practical, consistent guidance to countries regarding the resumption of trade with countries that have reported cases of BSE. Veneman said that the United States, Mexico and Canada have requested that the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) include such a dialogue in an upcoming meeting of international experts in September.
"The current OIE standards have been helpful in guiding countries with their risk mitigation efforts," Veneman said. "But we are continually learning about this disease and the science is advancing. Many countries with and without BSE have taken new steps to control and prevent it. All this places the international community in a much better position today to develop a practical, risk-based approach to addressing safety issues that impact trade. Countries knowing they will be treated consistently and fairly will have greater incentive to conduct appropriate levels of surveillance and reporting of BSE as well as to demonstrate transparency with their trading partners."
Agriculture Ocean Transportation Coalition (AgOTC) - Ocean Transportation Issues. Please submit your individual nominations for the 2003 USMEF Distinguished Service Award to USMEF by this Friday, August 15. Click here to download the DSA nomination form in PDF format. Simply fill out this PDF, save it on your computer and then e-mail it back as an attachment to Tiffani Neitzel at tneitzel@usmef.org. USMEF Board of Directors Meeting - November 5-7, 2003Hilton El Conquistador Resort, Tucson, Arizona BOD Sponsorship Form and BOD Reminder Postcard For more information on BOD Sponsorship, please e-mail John Hinners, Membership Director, at jhinners@usmef.org