A ruling by the World Organization for Animal Health – or OIE – adds some...

A ruling by the World Organization for Animal Health – or OIE – adds some strength to efforts by the U.S. beef industry to increase exports. The OIE declared the United States a “controlled risk” country for BSE, which provides additional assurances to other countries that protections for BSE eradication are in place.

Speaking from the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Board of Directors meeting Wednesday in La Jolla, Calif., USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng said he was encouraged about the ruling.

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According to Seng, the United States was not alone in seeking the ruling.

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Seng says the ruling is important, but must be looked at in context.

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When it comes to trade in Asian countries, the ruling may have a more immediate impact in South Korea.

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Seng says the ruling will be useful in generating greater beef trade with many countries, and will set the stage for improving the U.S. BSE status with OIE to “negligible risk” in the future.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, lamb, corn, sorghum and soybean checkoff programs.

– USMEF –