R-CALF and Japan

[Oldtimer]

Today 3/19/2005 6:31:00 AM


Cattle Alert: R-Calf Statement Regarding Japan’s Ban on U.S. Beef Exports



(Billings, Mont.) – The following statement should be attributed to R-CALF USA President Leo McDonnell, regarding Japan’s ban on U.S. beef exports:



“The Bush Administration should not be playing politics with a disease as misunderstood and as threatening as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).



“Japan used the identification of an infected Canadian cow in Washington state as a convenient excuse to ban U.S. beef, even though they knew then – and know now – we have the safest beef in the world. We have the safest beef because the United States always has maintained the highest health and safety standards. That safety, though, is at risk if we do what this Administration proposes.



“Lowering standards by allowing more Canadian cattle into the United States will not convince Japan to open its market to U.S. beef. It will jeopardize safety and undermine consumer confidence in this country.



“Let’s take away Japan's excuse by doing what scientists and experts – even those within the Administration – say the U.S. should do: require Canada to test more cattle and younger cattle, and enforce and strengthen the feed bans in both Canada and the United States. In addition, the Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) law already in place should be implemented at once so U.S. consumers can make informed decisions when purchasing beef.



“Requiring Canada to do the right thing regarding its BSE problem only enhances the health and safety of the U.S. consumers and that of consumers who live in our export markets around the globe.



“Nobody wants to open the Japanese market more than U.S. cattlemen and ranchers. But, we can’t solve the export problem with Japan until we solve the import and potential BSE exposure problem with Canada, especially under the current rules being sought by USDA.



“R-CALF USA obtained an unofficial transcript of a Japanese news conference held Thursday by Japanese Under-Secretary Ishihara with the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.



“Part of that unofficial translation indicates: ‘Japan has been consulting with the government of Canada at working group level meetings. We have been asking both the U.S. and Canada to take equivalent measures to ours, then we will decide if Japan will resume beef imports from Canada or not, regardless of whether the issue between the U.S. and Canada is resolved or not.’”

[~SH~]

Leo: “Japan used the identification of an infected Canadian cow in Washington state as a convenient excuse to ban U.S. beef, even though they knew then – and know now – we have the safest beef in the world. We have the safest beef because the United States always has maintained the highest health and safety standards. That safety, though, is at risk if we do what this Administration proposes."

What an absolute Joke!

Japan will not fall for R-CULT's bullsh*t. They know full well that we have Canadian cattle in our system today and R-CULT even demanded that USDA find them after they prohibited "M"ID from "M"COOL. They know full well we are importing Canadian boxed beef. They know full well we are taking the exact same BSE precautionary measures as Canada.

R-CULT is jeoprodizing our trade with Japan, not enhancing it.

R-CULT fools nobody but themselves!



~SH~

[don]

after meeting with secretary of state rice japan's foreign minister said tokyo would not be rushed. that's on reuters this morning. maybe it would help if the japanese prime minister spoke directly to leo. then things would be more even and direct. lol.

[TimH]

Oldtimer, Thanks for posting that!!!!!

I don't know if it will make "laugh of the year" or not (it's early still) but it is definitley laugh of the month!!!

It is good to see that Leo's comments are every bit as intelligent as Bill's and Dennis's!!!

[Sandhusker]

"We have been asking both the U.S. and Canada to take equivalent measures to ours"

What do you think that means? Japan doesn't age test, Japan BSE tests all their cattle.........

[TimH]

"We have been asking both the U.S. and Canada to take equivalent measures to ours, then we will decide if Japan will resume beef imports from Canada or not, regardless of whether the issue between the U.S. and Canada is resolved or not.’”

"........THEN WE WILL DECIDE if Japan will resume beef imports ....."

Did they agree to accept beef if it was tested, or did they agree only to DECIDE if they would or would not??????

McDonnnell-“Let’s take away Japan's excuse by doing what scientists and experts – even those within the Administration – say the U.S. should do: require Canada to test more cattle and younger cattle...."

Is it R-calf's official position that Canada should be testing YOUNGER cattle or was Leo misquoted or taken out of context???

[cowsense]

Just goes to prove that Leo knows and cares little about the science; it's all about scare tactics to maintain his position.

[Maple Leaf Angus]

Every village has its idiot, they just don't always make press releases.......

..... or have people willing to hold them up as a poster boy.......

[Tam]

[Manitoba_Rancher]

If it was still the 1800's Leo would be hanging out of a big tall oak tree by now! Lying SOB! Canadian beef is safe and he damn well knows it. He is just trying to keep his high priced R-calf position so he can support his cults position to by off judges. This lil short village idiot is going to have to do some back pedalling when your second case of home grown BSE is found. Oh yeah I forgot you like to blame that on Canada too.