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A step back in time

Mike

Well-known member
NCBA, AMI pan committee's BSE report

by Daniel Yovich on 2/5/04 for Meatingplace.com
An anticipated report released Wednesday by a subcommittee of the Agriculture Department's Foreign Animal and Poultry Disease Advisory Committee that questioned U.S. safeguards to prevent the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy garnered cool reaction by beef industry groups, who argued that the report reaches inappropriate conclusions.

"Clearly, some members of the panel do not have a full understanding of the systems we have in place in the U.S," said Gary Weber, executive director of regulatory affairs and an animal health scientist for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. "Many of the panel's recommendations are based on the European model and overlook scientific evidence that clearly demonstrates the long-standing firewalls in place in our country have been effective."

Weber noted the oft-cited 2001 Harvard University study that concluded that measures "taken by the U.S. government and industry make the U.S. robust against the spread of BSE to animals or humans." That report was completed before the Dec. 23 announcement that a single Washington State dairy cow tested positive for, and before Canada discovered a case of BSE in May.

"It is imperative that the panel's recommendations be evaluated in comparison to the Harvard model," says Weber.

NCBA did find some common ground with the panel, Weber noted, agreeing with the panel's recommendation for an effective animal identification system to aid in disease monitoring and traceback.

"We've always supported the development of an animal ID system and we have been actively working with the government and other industry organizations for years on a plan," says Weber. "We feel confident the U.S. Animal Identification Plan (USAIP) will meet these goals."

NCBA says the panel's work is an important step in the process following the BSE case identified in December, but the panel must consider the proactive efforts already in place before calling for additional measures that won't help reduce risk any further.

"We take issue with this report because it implies the risk of BSE has not been mitigated in this country," says Weber. "That is simply not the case."

The panel said it's "probable" that the United States has imported other infected cattle from Canada but should nonetheless show leadership by stopping "irrational trade barriers."

In the report, the panel said the number of infected cattle on the Alberta farm which exported a Holstein with mad cow was probably small.

"However, it is probable that other infected animals have been imported from Canada and possibly also from Europe," noting that since the animals haven't been detected, infected material has likely been rendered and fed to cattle, so the United States has been "indigenously infected."

For that reason, the panel said the United States should stop searching for the rest of the herd from Alberta and concentrate on surveillance and other safety measures.

AMI reacts

For its part, The American Meat Institute gave a mixed reaction to today's report, saying the panel reaffirmed the efficacy of many of America's existing firewalls but strongly criticized the possibility that America was vulnerable to more cases of BSE.

"We are not a high risk country," said Jim Hodges, president of the AMI Foundation. "So it's inconceivable that we want to go to the most aggressive methods."

The organization also rejected recommendations to test all "at-risk" cattle over 30 months of age and the banning of cattle brains and spinal material in all livestock feed and pet food as a precaution, saying there needed to be scientific data to back up any such move.

"We need to methodically, scientifically and carefully analyze all the options," Hodges said. "You're not going to test your way to safe product."

J. Patrick Boyle, president of AMI, said the United States should take a leadership role in adopting the World Animal Health Organization standards for trade with countries at minimal risk of BSE, "even when the U.S. didn't fully abide by OIE guidelines in response to the Canadian crisis."

Boyle said decisions to resume beef trade with America "depends on the desire of foreign governments to find a scientific basis to restore trade, or to find a thin reed to keep [borders] closed."

"There is ample evidence in segments of the report for governments who want to restore trade" to do so, Boyle said, calling the bans in place by more than 30 countries, including top importers Japan and Mexico, a "domestic and political issue."

Boyle said AMI supported the report's call for greater harmonization of trading rules between countries with minimum BSE risk, as well as the adoption of a national animal identification program.

In response to the report, most live and feeder cattle futures contracts at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange fell the maximum 1.50 cents per pound. February live cattle were down 1.50 cents at 74.825 cents per pound.
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
"Weber noted the oft-cited 2001 Harvard University study that concluded that measures "taken by the U.S. government and industry make the U.S. robust against the spread of BSE to animals or humans." "

Did Gary forget that when this study that he praises come out, the first line of defense was a closed border to any BSE positive country? That measure was gutted with the blessings of the NCBA.

"The panel said it's "probable" that the United States has imported other infected cattle from Canada but should nonetheless show leadership by stopping "irrational trade barriers.""

Being a leader implies a follower is present. Have they looked at recent history for examples of others following our leadership? I see the opposite - I don't think anybody except Canada wants to follow us.
 
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