30 Month Rule Withdrawn

[ranch hand]

It's back to the drawing board for USDA and APHIS, as the agencies on Thursday withdrew a proposed rule that would have opened the northern border to Canadian cattle of all ages. At present, only cattle under 30 months of age are allowed for import, depriving the U.S. slaughter industry of a valuable commodity and causing a backup of cull cattle in Canada. The proposed rule had been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget on July 6, the last step before publishing it for public comment.

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns had hoped to open a proposed rule for comment by September, but it appears the rule will die in the recesses of USDA or be rewritten or possibly resubmitted as is once the investigation of the latest case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Canada has been completed.

Bill Bullard, chief executive of Ranchers-Cattlemen's Action Legal Fund, a cattle grower's group that has bitterly fought reopening of the Canadian border, says that he is hoping the rule will be suspended indefinitely. "The Korean issue, in which Korea has demanded that U.S. and Canadian cattle be segregated in slaughter facilities, has made it clear there is an issue with Canadian cattle and beef, and economic consequences for the United States in the form of possible disruption of trade," he said.

J. Patrick Boyle, president and chief executive of the American Meat Institute, told Meatingplace.com that "in light of the pending investigation of the case of BSE discovered recently in Canada, not going forward with the rule at this time seems to be both prudent and reasonable."

USDA spokesmen were in meetings and could not be reached for comment.

 

[Anonymous]

This does not surprise me as the USDA was catching heat from everywhere- Ag groups, cattlemans groups, consumer groups, exporters,Congressmen that were catching lots of heat and don't want to have to vote in an election year :wink: , etc...

It doesn't surprise me about AMI's statement either, as I think both they and USDA reallize they need to make some move that looks positive- or they may lose the entire Border Rule on the appeal to the courts- or in Congress, since many of the issues that R-CALF had argued (defective Canadian feed ban, negative impact on trade, etc. etc.) have now come to fruition and become public- while many of USDA's arguments are now shown as being full of holes.. Public awareness of the Canadian problem and public opinion on the border issue has changed since the courts ruled- and like it or not the courts sometimes flow with the feel of the public- especially the 9th Circuit....And even politicians sometimes put their constituents over the corporate lobbyist donations- if there is enough heat on them...

 

[Anonymous]

July 27, 2006



USDA Withdraws Proposed OTM Rule



(Billings, Mont.) – R-CALF USA is pleased to learn the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) withdrew from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) its proposed rule to allow cattle and beef from cattle over 30 months (OTM) of age from Canada – the last stage of the government's rule-making process before actual publication in the Federal Register.



"This means that APHIS has brought this proposed rule back within the agency," said R-CALF USA President and Region V Director Chuck Kiker. "The assumptions regarding the scope of the disease problem in Canada, along with the ineffectiveness of the Canadian feed ban, must now be changed following Canada's discovery of a BSE-infected cow that was only 4 years and 2 months old."



R-CALF USA continues to urge APHIS to publicly announce it is postponing indefinitely plans to allow into the U.S. cattle over 30 months of age from Canada, and beef from those OTM cattle, until the full scope of Canada's BSE problem is scientifically known and a new risk assessment is completed that incorporates the four separate BSE-infected cows born after Canada's feed ban was implemented in 1997.



R-CALF USA also urges APHIS to take additional steps to ensure the BSE problem in Canada does not adversely affect exports of U.S. beef.



R-CALF USA has requested the Secretary of Agriculture to:



Rescind its Minimal Risk Region Rule that presently allows the importation of cattle and beef from cattle under 30 months of age from Canada until a comprehensive analysis is completed on Canada's latest detection of a 4 year, 2 month old cow with BSE;

End its practice of granting access to the U.S. market before the United States fully regains all of its lost export markets; and,

Ensure that beef produced exclusively from U.S. cattle be clearly labeled with a Country-of-Origin Label (COOL) for consumers, both domestic and abroad.


"Without differentiating U.S. beef from foreign beef, the U.S. cattle industry cannot benefit from the successful measures our country has implemented to reduce the likelihood of cattle disease problems," Kiker said. "The steps R-CALF USA suggests are needed for the U.S. cattle industry to maintain its separate identity and to preserve U.S. cattle producers' reputation of producing the safest, most wholesome beef in the world, under the very best of conditions."



To view the withdrawal, visit: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoDetails?rrid=113401



# # #



R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America) represents thousands of U.S. cattle producers on domestic and international trade and marketing issues. R-CALF USA, a national, non-profit organization, is dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. R-CALF USA's membership consists primarily of cow/calf operators, cattle backgrounders, and feedlot owners. Its members – over 18,000 strong – are located in 47 states, and the organization has over 60 local and state association affiliates, from both cattle and farm organizations. Various main street businesses are associate members of R-CALF USA. For more information, visit www.r-calfusa.com or, call 406-252-2516.

 

[Econ101]

I don't think withdrawing the rule is enough. The people responsible for allowing it are probably some of the same ones opposing a cheap bse test for the industry. These people should be rooted out of the USDA and any ties to the industry exposed and possibly punished. It is the only way we will not repeat the same type of mistakes and bring respectability back to the USDA.

 

[Manitoba_Rancher]

Rescind its Minimal Risk Region Rule that presently allows the importation of cattle and beef from cattle under 30 months of age from Canada until a comprehensive analysis is completed on Canada's latest detection of a 4 year, 2 month old cow with BSE;

End its practice of granting access to the U.S. market before the United States fully regains all of its lost export markets; and,

Ensure that beef produced exclusively from U.S. cattle be clearly labeled with a Country-of-Origin Label (COOL) for consumers, both domestic and abroad.


Typical R-calf BS!!! Oh cry me a damn river havent you idiots figured out that there is cattle in the US with BSE? There are alot of excellent beef producers in the US but then you get these wannabes that join up with a cult and figure they can rule the world, it makes things uglier.

 

[Econ101]

Canadians don't mind being used. Captive supply has proven that. :roll:

Until some of you start acting like real players (I am not talking about people like Rod or rkaiser) instead of pawns, don't expect anyone to treat you any different.

.......a $20.00 bse test and a little honesty.

Maybe it is too much to ask of some. :shock:

 

[TimH]

Canadians don't mind being used. Captive supply has proven that. :roll:

Until some of you start acting like real players (I am not talking about people like Rod or rkaiser) instead of pawns, don't expect anyone to treat you any different.

.......a $20.00 bse test and a little honesty.

Maybe it is too much to ask of some. :shock:

Hey Econ and others, If bse-testers live animal urine test was validated and approved next week, would you support or oppose importation of OTMs(live or in a box) from Canada into the USA, provided they tested negative for BSE with this approved live test?? If so would you approve of NO SRM removal on these animals???

 

[Sandhusker]

Rescind its Minimal Risk Region Rule that presently allows the importation of cattle and beef from cattle under 30 months of age from Canada until a comprehensive analysis is completed on Canada's latest detection of a 4 year, 2 month old cow with BSE;

End its practice of granting access to the U.S. market before the United States fully regains all of its lost export markets; and,

Ensure that beef produced exclusively from U.S. cattle be clearly labeled with a Country-of-Origin Label (COOL) for consumers, both domestic and abroad.


Typical R-calf BS!!! Oh cry me a damn river havent you idiots figured out that there is cattle in the US with BSE? There are alot of excellent beef producers in the US but then you get these wannabes that join up with a cult and figure they can rule the world, it makes things uglier.

According to the USDA, we don't have what you have. We want to keep it that way.

 

[Manitoba_Rancher]

Canadians don't mind being used. Captive supply has proven that. :roll:

Until some of you start acting like real players (I am not talking about people like Rod or rkaiser) instead of pawns, don't expect anyone to treat you any different.

.......a $20.00 bse test and a little honesty.

Maybe it is too much to ask of some. :shock:

Hey Econ and others, If bse-testers live animal urine test was validated and approved next week, would you support or oppose importation of OTMs(live or in a box) from Canada into the USA, provided they tested negative for BSE with this approved live test?? If so would you approve of NO SRM removal on these animals???

Notice how they vipassed your question Tim? :wink:

I ll bet they say no because you have a big problem up there in Kan-a-da!! :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Canadians don't mind being used. Captive supply has proven that. :roll:

Until some of you start acting like real players (I am not talking about people like Rod or rkaiser) instead of pawns, don't expect anyone to treat you any different.

.......a $20.00 bse test and a little honesty.

Maybe it is too much to ask of some. :shock:

Hey Econ and others, If bse-testers live animal urine test was validated and approved next week, would you support or oppose importation of OTMs(live or in a box) from Canada into the USA, provided they tested negative for BSE with this approved live test?? If so would you approve of NO SRM removal on these animals???

If the test were approved and the cattle tested AND the US had Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling allowing the consumer a choice, I would allow old cattle/beef for immediate slaughter purposes...

As far as the cows for breeding/seedstock- thats a few years down the line as we don't know for how many years the feedban has been deficient and for how many years the disease will manifest itself as cattle age....

 

[TimH]

Rescind its Minimal Risk Region Rule that presently allows the importation of cattle and beef from cattle under 30 months of age from Canada until a comprehensive analysis is completed on Canada's latest detection of a 4 year, 2 month old cow with BSE;

End its practice of granting access to the U.S. market before the United States fully regains all of its lost export markets; and,

Ensure that beef produced exclusively from U.S. cattle be clearly labeled with a Country-of-Origin Label (COOL) for consumers, both domestic and abroad.


Typical R-calf BS!!! Oh cry me a damn river havent you idiots figured out that there is cattle in the US with BSE? There are alot of excellent beef producers in the US but then you get these wannabes that join up with a cult and figure they can rule the world, it makes things uglier.

According to the USDA, we don't have what you have. We want to keep it that way.

Sandhusker, If your feed-ban is "effective", where is the risk of you catching "what we have"??

 

[Econ101]

Canadians don't mind being used. Captive supply has proven that. :roll:

Until some of you start acting like real players (I am not talking about people like Rod or rkaiser) instead of pawns, don't expect anyone to treat you any different.

.......a $20.00 bse test and a little honesty.

Maybe it is too much to ask of some. :shock:

Hey Econ and others, If bse-testers live animal urine test was validated and approved next week, would you support or oppose importation of OTMs(live or in a box) from Canada into the USA, provided they tested negative for BSE with this approved live test?? If so would you approve of NO SRM removal on these animals???

I wouldn't personally have a problem with them---as long as they didn't come from companies that had ties to the ones manipulating the markets and paying off politicians in the U.S. and or Canada. This might be a positive step in decreasing packer control of Canadian supplies and would be in the interest of Canadian and U.S. producers. I am not a member of rcalf so I can't speak for them. There may be some other issues that we do not know about.

I wouldn't hesitate to get into trade negotiations on the subject with someone like Rod or rkaiser. If you throw Tam, Jason or some of the others in there, I wouldn't even go to the talks. Trade should benefit all players. When it does not, it is no longer beneficial trade. If packers are suppressing the producer surplus in Canada or the U.S., I would stop allowing that meat to enter the country. The packers playing those games would soon have a lot of extra meat to eat and I wouldn't help them out at all.

 

[TimH]

Canadians don't mind being used. Captive supply has proven that. :roll:

Until some of you start acting like real players (I am not talking about people like Rod or rkaiser) instead of pawns, don't expect anyone to treat you any different.

.......a $20.00 bse test and a little honesty.

Maybe it is too much to ask of some. :shock:

Hey Econ and others, If bse-testers live animal urine test was validated and approved next week, would you support or oppose importation of OTMs(live or in a box) from Canada into the USA, provided they tested negative for BSE with this approved live test?? If so would you approve of NO SRM removal on these animals???

If the test were approved and the cattle tested AND the US had Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling allowing the consumer a choice, I would allow old cattle/beef for immediate slaughter purposes...

As far as the cows for breeding/seedstock- thats a few years down the line as we don't know for how many years the feedban has been deficient and for how many years the disease will manifest itself as cattle age....

What would be the problem with breeding stock, OT? Ron claims that if the animal has BSE, his test will detect it every time, regardless of age. If they test negative, what is the problem??

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Econ and others, If bse-testers live animal urine test was validated and approved next week, would you support or oppose importation of OTMs(live or in a box) from Canada into the USA, provided they tested negative for BSE with this approved live test?? If so would you approve of NO SRM removal on these animals???

If the test were approved and the cattle tested AND the US had Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling allowing the consumer a choice, I would allow old cattle/beef for immediate slaughter purposes...

As far as the cows for breeding/seedstock- thats a few years down the line as we don't know for how many years the feedban has been deficient and for how many years the disease will manifest itself as cattle age....

What would be the problem with breeding stock, OT? Ron claims that if the animal has BSE, his test will detect it every time, regardless of age. If they test negative, what is the problem??

As I understand it the tests only show that the disease hasn't manifested itself in the animal- not that it can't be incubating the disease- which could show up in later years...

If it can be shown the test can show the disease from minute of inception all the way to years later with full blown infection- then I would have no problem with seedstock as long as USDA had a much better tracking system than they did before...I don't think we should ever again allow live cattle imports without Permanent ID and tracking of those imported cattle....

I also feel that the UTM rule should be changed and beef/live cattle from them should not be allowed into the US without testing- especially anything slaughtered or to be slaughtered over TWENTY months old since the better science is showing they are finding several positives at that age....
Canada needs to test all until they get a knowledge of extent and handle on the disease..
I think the courts and Congress may need to revisit the UTM rule if USDA doesn't...

But all should be labeled and marked to the consumer "Product of Canada"...

 

[Manitoba_Rancher]

Tim,

No sense argueing with ot, its like argueing with a block of wood!! :roll:

 

[TimH]

Oldtimer wrote-

As I understand it the tests only show that the disease hasn't manifested itself in the animal- not that it can't be incubating the disease- which could show up in later years...

Ok, but the way understand it , is that Ron claims that his test will detect BSE if it is there, period. Maybe Ron will be kind enough to clarify this for us.

Until then, what about SRM removal on boxed beef, or live animals for that matter? Is it necessary if the animal tests negative for BSE???

 

[Murgen]

Tim, I guess this would be a perfect time to take Tester up on his offer of free tests. We test everything, ship them to the US, and then they track them until they hit the killfloor and then test them to find out if the tests work.

Works out for everybody.

1) test validation
2) COOL
3) 2 tests on the same animal, for food safety
4) The US gets to test out their NAIS, and COOL

Unless it's about trade?

 

[Anonymous]

Oldtimer wrote-

As I understand it the tests only show that the disease hasn't manifested itself in the animal- not that it can't be incubating the disease- which could show up in later years...

Ok, but the way understand it , is that Ron claims that his test will detect BSE if it is there, period. Maybe Ron will be kind enough to clarify this for us.

Until then, what about SRM removal on boxed beef, or live animals for that matter? Is it necessary if the animal tests negative for BSE???

Personally I think there is way too much faith put in SRM removal- and much of it is a smokescreen...According to some knowledgeable sources that I have talked to is that during SRM removal their are huge chances of contamination if the disease is there... I almost think the tests are more reliable...
But I also don't think we should weaken any of our safeguards- and until the extent of the disease can be ascertained in Canada, we should require tested and SRM removal on Canadian over TWENTY month cattle....

 

[Anonymous]

Tim, I guess this would be a perfect time to take Tester up on his offer of free tests. We test everything, ship them to the US, and then they track them until they hit the killfloor and then test them to find out if the tests work.

Works out for everybody.

1) test validation
2) COOL
3) 2 tests on the same animal, for food safety
4) The US gets to test out their NAIS, and COOL

Unless it's about trade?

How about you do the double tests up there until you prove Canada is free of BSE and not again ride on the US industry and taxpayer ...

 

[Murgen]

OT, have you ever wondered why no tests have been done on the muscle cuts of a BSE positive to find out where the misshapen prions are present?

Or for that matter included an infected animal in feed and tested to see if it was passed on?