USMEF Notes | Freight Rate Increase | At the May USMEF BOD meeting, the Expor...
USMEF Notes
Freight Rate Increase
At the May USMEF BOD meeting, the Exporter Committee directed USMEF to send a letter to the Federal Maritime Commission and other interested parties formally protesting the dramatic shipping rate increase scheduled for July 1, 2003. A copy of the letter was e-mailed to all members on June 5. It is imperative that USMEF members respond immediately (prior to noon on June 6). USMEF wishes to demonstrate the united opposition of the industry to the rate increase, expressed in the individual signatures of USMEF member companies and organizations attached to the letter.
The letter is dated June 6, and though we apologize for the short notice, it is essential that the letter be dispatched on June 6.
PLEASE REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL WITH YOUR PERMISSION TO ADD YOUR COMPANY NAME TO THE SIGNATORIES OF THE LETTER BEFORE NOON FRIDAY.
No Further BSE Cases Uncovered;
APHIS Assists Investigation
Canadian Food Inspection Agency Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Brian Evans told a press conference Wednesday afternoon that "all animals from the case farm, the trace-forward premises, the first line of inquiry of the trace-back premises relative to the co-mingling farm and the three farms in British Columbia associated with the feed investigation have been slaughtered and have … tested negative."
Testing of other connected herds in Saskatchewan and Alberta has so far produced no further cases, although the investigation continues. The investigation has still not definitively identified the herd from which the one Canadian BSE case originated. One of the possible herds of origin is one in Saskatchewan which sold five bulls to a farm in Montana. This particular farm does business with three stockyards, one of which is in Montana and two of which are in South Dakota. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is working with the farmer and the stockyards to determine the disposition of those animals. Based on current information and the numerous controls in place in the United States for monitoring and detection of possible BSE infection, USDA has no reason to believe that any of the five bulls were infected or presented any risk to the U.S. food supply.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Montana State veterinary officials are in the initial stages of conducting an investigation into the final disposition of these animals. This investigation is consistent with the investigation ongoing in Canada and will contribute to that investigation.
For several reasons, USDA believes it is unlikely that any of the bulls were infected with BSE:
- The Canadian herd that the bulls came from was depopulated and all the cattle have tested negative for BSE, including cattle born in the same year as the positive cow.
- Research indicates that a low dose of infection results in a greater incubation period. As the infected animal in Canada was eight years old, that indicates that the infected animal received a low dose of BSE. Any exposure of BSE to other animals in that herd would be even lower.
- In Europe, where animal exposure to BSE was greatest, herds affected by BSE typically have a very low prevalence of disease and usually do not have additional positive cows.
- If investigation reveals that the bulls were slaughtered, it was after implementation of the FDA feed ban, thus ensuring that these animals did not enter the animal food chain.
- Bovine semen is not a means of transmitting the disease. So, the fact that these were breeding bulls is not a concern.
Dr. Evans' full statement can be read online at:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/disemala/bseesb/tech/20030604teche.shtml
Latest information from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency can be found at:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/disemala/bseesb/bseesbindexe.shtml
USMEF Notes
Freight Rate Increase
At the May USMEF BOD meeting, the Exporter Committee directed USMEF to send a letter to the Federal Maritime Commission and other interested parties formally protesting the dramatic shipping rate increase scheduled for July 1, 2003. A copy of the letter was e-mailed to all members on June 5. It is imperative that USMEF members respond immediately (prior to noon on June 6). USMEF wishes to demonstrate the united opposition of the industry to the rate increase, expressed in the individual signatures of USMEF member companies and organizations attached to the letter.
The letter is dated June 6, and though we apologize for the short notice, it is essential that the letter be dispatched on June 6.
PLEASE REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL WITH YOUR PERMISSION TO ADD YOUR COMPANY NAME TO THE SIGNATORIES OF THE LETTER BEFORE NOON FRIDAY.
No Further BSE Cases Uncovered;
APHIS Assists Investigation
Canadian Food Inspection Agency Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Brian Evans told a press conference Wednesday afternoon that "all animals from the case farm, the trace-forward premises, the first line of inquiry of the trace-back premises relative to the co-mingling farm and the three farms in British Columbia associated with the feed investigation have been slaughtered and have … tested negative."
Testing of other connected herds in Saskatchewan and Alberta has so far produced no further cases, although the investigation continues. The investigation has still not definitively identified the herd from which the one Canadian BSE case originated. One of the possible herds of origin is one in Saskatchewan which sold five bulls to a farm in Montana. This particular farm does business with three stockyards, one of which is in Montana and two of which are in South Dakota. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is working with the farmer and the stockyards to determine the disposition of those animals. Based on current information and the numerous controls in place in the United States for monitoring and detection of possible BSE infection, USDA has no reason to believe that any of the five bulls were infected or presented any risk to the U.S. food supply.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Montana State veterinary officials are in the initial stages of conducting an investigation into the final disposition of these animals. This investigation is consistent with the investigation ongoing in Canada and will contribute to that investigation.
For several reasons, USDA believes it is unlikely that any of the bulls were infected with BSE:
- The Canadian herd that the bulls came from was depopulated and all the cattle have tested negative for BSE, including cattle born in the same year as the positive cow.
- Research indicates that a low dose of infection results in a greater incubation period. As the infected animal in Canada was eight years old, that indicates that the infected animal received a low dose of BSE. Any exposure of BSE to other animals in that herd would be even lower.
- In Europe, where animal exposure to BSE was greatest, herds affected by BSE typically have a very low prevalence of disease and usually do not have additional positive cows.
- If investigation reveals that the bulls were slaughtered, it was after implementation of the FDA feed ban, thus ensuring that these animals did not enter the animal food chain.
- Bovine semen is not a means of transmitting the disease. So, the fact that these were breeding bulls is not a concern.
Dr. Evans’ full statement can be read online at:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/disemala/bseesb/tech/20030604teche.shtml
Latest information from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency can be found at:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/disemala/bseesb/bseesbindexe.shtml