United States | U.S. Secretary Of Agriculture Says Test Results Will Be Made ...
United States
U.S. Secretary Of Agriculture Says Test Results Will Be Made Public When Known
On June 16, a USDA scientist hand-delivered a package containing part of the remaining 12.5 grams of brain from a cow initially tested and declared BSE-free in November 2004 to Weybridge, England where four different tests will be conducted. The USDA also said U.S. scientists will conduct two of the same tests in addition to two others at its National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa.
The test results, when known, will be made “very public” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns said in a USDA-released statement. Although no public or animal implications exist since the animal in question never entered the food supply, Johanns said USDA has the opportunity to learn more about this sample, knowing it could advance the science behind testing efforts.
For complete coverage on this issue, visit the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) home page of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Web site.
National Animal ID System Bills In Congress
Two bills regarding a nationwide animal identification system have been introduced into Congress and have been referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture and have requests for executive comment from USDA.
The first bill (H.R. 1254) requires an ID system to be: (1) be capable of tracing within 48 hours livestock from birth to slaughter; (2) provide U.S. state access and state information; and (3) apply to all livestock born or imported into the United Sates and to interstate and intrastate commerce. The bill exempts (with specified exceptions) system information from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act or other release into the public domain. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) provide producer participation assistance; and (2) appoint an international panel of scientific experts to review the Department's response to an outbreak of livestock disease. For more information on this bill, see Legislation Details for Bill H.R. 1254.
The second bill (H.R. 1256) exempts certain animal identification information from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. This bill outlines discretionary and mandatory limited disclosure provisions. For more information on this bill, see Legislation Details for Bill H.R. 1256.
A confidentiality bill was initially introduced at the end of the Congressional session in early December 2004. However, Congress was not able to act on it so a new proposal has been sent through the system and is currently in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review.
United States
U.S. Secretary Of Agriculture Says Test Results Will Be Made Public When Known
On June 16, a USDA scientist hand-delivered a package containing part of the remaining 12.5 grams of brain from a cow initially tested and declared BSE-free in November 2004 to Weybridge, England where four different tests will be conducted. The USDA also said U.S. scientists will conduct two of the same tests in addition to two others at its National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa.
The test results, when known, will be made “very public” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns said in a USDA-released statement. Although no public or animal implications exist since the animal in question never entered the food supply, Johanns said USDA has the opportunity to learn more about this sample, knowing it could advance the science behind testing efforts.
For complete coverage on this issue, visit the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) home page of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Web site.
National Animal ID System Bills In Congress
Two bills regarding a nationwide animal identification system have been introduced into Congress and have been referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture and have requests for executive comment from USDA.
The first bill (H.R. 1254) requires an ID system to be: (1) be capable of tracing within 48 hours livestock from birth to slaughter; (2) provide U.S. state access and state information; and (3) apply to all livestock born or imported into the United Sates and to interstate and intrastate commerce. The bill exempts (with specified exceptions) system information from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act or other release into the public domain. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) provide producer participation assistance; and (2) appoint an international panel of scientific experts to review the Department's response to an outbreak of livestock disease. For more information on this bill, see Legislation Details for Bill H.R. 1254.
The second bill (H.R. 1256) exempts certain animal identification information from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. This bill outlines discretionary and mandatory limited disclosure provisions. For more information on this bill, see Legislation Details for Bill H.R. 1256.
A confidentiality bill was initially introduced at the end of the Congressional session in early December 2004. However, Congress was not able to act on it so a new proposal has been sent through the system and is currently in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review.