U.S. | U.S. Meat Export Federation Statement by President and CEO Philip Seng...
U.S.
U.S. Meat Export Federation Statement by President and CEO Philip Seng, Wednesday December 31, 2003. To view statement click here.
BSE Update Dec. 31
USDA Wednesday clarified Tuesday's announcement of new rules governing handling of SRMs, noting that only the distal ileum would have to be removed from all animals, not the entire small intestine as announced yesterday. Dr. Ron DeHaven also noted progress in tracing other cattle that were imported with the index cow, saying that nine of the other animals are in the index herd currently quarantined. DNA testing will begin Wednesday night and are likely to be available early next week. He noted also that the U.S. is taking the lead in the world to set new standards for handing BSE concerns.
USDA Announces Additional Regulations Concerning Downers, SRMs
Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced additional safeguards to bolster the U.S. protection systems against Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, or BSE, and further protect public health. For details, go to http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2003/12/0449.htm. In summary: downer animals will be banned from the human food chain; animals tested will be held until test results are returned before being allowed in the food supply; specific risk materials (SRMs) are defined and these materials will be banned if from animals under 30 months (one exception, small intestine is banned); advanced meat recovery (AMR) will not be allowed for animals under 30 months; and air injection stunning will no longer be allowed
BSE Update Dec. 30
USDA officials say their preliminary investigation continues to suggest that the index Holstein dairy cow found to have BSE entered the U.S. as a part of a group of 82 dairy animals arriving through Eastport, Idaho, from Alberta, Canada, in August 2001. USDA Chief Veterinarian Ron DeHaven said Monday discrepancies continue to be investigated, but the age of the animal is now believed to be confirmed at about 6½ years old, not 4½ as previously believed. USDA and Canada will work together to gather and test DNA evidence to confirm that it is the same animal and to determine the birth herd; DNA test results should be back later this week.
While the suspected origins of the index cow brought some relief to the U.S. cattle industry, the specter of more than 70,000 head of dairy cattle imported to the U.S. and likely still in production has been raised was a cause for concern by media and others. DeHaven noted that changes to the current program of surveillance and testing are likely, but said there would be “no rush to change the rules” this early in the investigation. Media, on the other hand, report that “USDA officials” are saying the new procedures, including “test-and-hold” provisions may go into effect “within days.” USMEF has not been able to independently confirm this statement.
During daily briefings on the status of the investigation, USDA said activity to recall meat is making progress, although all has not been located. Product has been shipped to eight states and Guam, although 80 percent of the product is in Washington and Oregon. USDA continued to reassure consumers that there is no risk from the meat, but wants it recalled out of “an abundance of caution.” Still, news reports Monday indicated that more than 100 consumers, who believe they might have consumed the product, have called the USDA consumer hotline for information. For more information and copies of transcripts of USDA briefings, go to www.usda.gov for links to this information.
A USDA delegation met Monday in Tokyo and Tuesday in Seoulwith representatives of the ministries of agriculture and health of Japan and South Korea, respectively, and reportedly made little progress convincing the Japanese and Korean officials that the product en route should be allowed into the countries. The Japanese are contending that they are treating the U.S. as they treated Canada and are overlooking the requirements they stipulated for the beef export verification (BEV) program, which provides government assurance that the product is BSE-free. Japanese officials said they will send and investigating team to the U.S. next week. USMEF estimates that as many as 1,000 containers may already be in bonded warehouses in Japan and Korea; the problem is complicated by the fact that while country officials aren’t allowing this product into commerce, it cannot be returned since neither country is considered FMD-free. In total, some 1,800 to 2,000 containers are estimated to be en route.
Countries that have announced bans or partial bans on U.S. beef products include Japan, Mexico, Korea, Russia, Egypt, Hong Kong, Costa Rica, EU, Oman, Panama, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Venezuela, China, Taiwan, Columbia, Singapore, Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia, Australia, Chile, Ukraine, Indonesia, UAE, Jordon, Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon, South Africa, Bulgaria and Canada (partial, allowing boned beef from animals under 30 months) – represents 95 percent of U.S. exports (based on annualized 2003). USMEF-ASIAN reports the Philippines likely will announce a ban within days. Additional information on the current situation is available at www.bseinfo.org.
U.S.
U.S. Meat Export Federation Statement by President and CEO Philip Seng, Wednesday December 31, 2003. To view statement click here.
BSE Update Dec. 31
USDA Wednesday clarified Tuesday's announcement of new rules governing handling of SRMs, noting that only the distal ileum would have to be removed from all animals, not the entire small intestine as announced yesterday. Dr. Ron DeHaven also noted progress in tracing other cattle that were imported with the index cow, saying that nine of the other animals are in the index herd currently quarantined. DNA testing will begin Wednesday night and are likely to be available early next week. He noted also that the U.S. is taking the lead in the world to set new standards for handing BSE concerns.
USDA Announces Additional Regulations Concerning Downers, SRMs
Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced additional safeguards to bolster the U.S. protection systems against Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, or BSE, and further protect public health. For details, go to http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2003/12/0449.htm. In summary: downer animals will be banned from the human food chain; animals tested will be held until test results are returned before being allowed in the food supply; specific risk materials (SRMs) are defined and these materials will be banned if from animals under 30 months (one exception, small intestine is banned); advanced meat recovery (AMR) will not be allowed for animals under 30 months; and air injection stunning will no longer be allowed
BSE Update Dec. 30
USDA officials say their preliminary investigation continues to suggest that the index Holstein dairy cow found to have BSE entered the U.S. as a part of a group of 82 dairy animals arriving through Eastport, Idaho, from Alberta, Canada, in August 2001. USDA Chief Veterinarian Ron DeHaven said Monday discrepancies continue to be investigated, but the age of the animal is now believed to be confirmed at about 6½ years old, not 4½ as previously believed. USDA and Canada will work together to gather and test DNA evidence to confirm that it is the same animal and to determine the birth herd; DNA test results should be back later this week.
While the suspected origins of the index cow brought some relief to the U.S. cattle industry, the specter of more than 70,000 head of dairy cattle imported to the U.S. and likely still in production has been raised was a cause for concern by media and others. DeHaven noted that changes to the current program of surveillance and testing are likely, but said there would be “no rush to change the rules” this early in the investigation. Media, on the other hand, report that “USDA officials” are saying the new procedures, including “test-and-hold” provisions may go into effect “within days.” USMEF has not been able to independently confirm this statement.
During daily briefings on the status of the investigation, USDA said activity to recall meat is making progress, although all has not been located. Product has been shipped to eight states and Guam, although 80 percent of the product is in Washington and Oregon. USDA continued to reassure consumers that there is no risk from the meat, but wants it recalled out of “an abundance of caution.” Still, news reports Monday indicated that more than 100 consumers, who believe they might have consumed the product, have called the USDA consumer hotline for information. For more information and copies of transcripts of USDA briefings, go to www.usda.gov for links to this information.
A USDA delegation met Monday in Tokyo and Tuesday in Seoulwith representatives of the ministries of agriculture and health of Japan and South Korea, respectively, and reportedly made little progress convincing the Japanese and Korean officials that the product en route should be allowed into the countries. The Japanese are contending that they are treating the U.S. as they treated Canada and are overlooking the requirements they stipulated for the beef export verification (BEV) program, which provides government assurance that the product is BSE-free. Japanese officials said they will send and investigating team to the U.S. next week. USMEF estimates that as many as 1,000 containers may already be in bonded warehouses in Japan and Korea; the problem is complicated by the fact that while country officials aren’t allowing this product into commerce, it cannot be returned since neither country is considered FMD-free. In total, some 1,800 to 2,000 containers are estimated to be en route.
Countries that have announced bans or partial bans on U.S. beef products include Japan, Mexico, Korea, Russia, Egypt, Hong Kong, Costa Rica, EU, Oman, Panama, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Venezuela, China, Taiwan, Columbia, Singapore, Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia, Australia, Chile, Ukraine, Indonesia, UAE, Jordon, Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon, South Africa, Bulgaria and Canada (partial, allowing boned beef from animals under 30 months) – represents 95 percent of U.S. exports (based on annualized 2003). USMEF-ASIAN reports the Philippines likely will announce a ban within days. Additional information on the current situation is available at www.bseinfo.org.