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A Trip Back In Time, 2 1/2 years Ago

Mike

Well-known member
Beef exports ride on a double standard - Monday, Jan. 19, 2004




SUMMARY: Let's hope Japan, largest foreign buyer of U.S. beef, proves more open-minded than America.

Key to prosperity for Montana's massive livestock industry is a speedy resumption of beef exports, which pretty much shut down following discovery, last month, of a Holstein in Washington infected with mad cow disease. Although 90 percent of the beef produced in America is consumed within our shores, the 10 percent that's exported is important. Exports not only generate $3 billion annually, but they also use up some of our nation's excess capacity to produce beef. Without exports, there'll be a glut of beef competing for a spot on your dinner table. Beef eaters might find some bargains at the butcher's, but beef producers would see profits plummet.


"It is difficult to overstate the danger that the loss of these markets poses to an industry worth $175 billion," Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., wrote, along with Republican colleague Larry Craig of Idaho, in a letter to Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman.

Some 43 countries banned U.S. beef immediately after the case of mad cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE. Of those countries, by far the most important is Japan. It's the world's largest importer of U.S. beef, buying about $1 billion a year worth of it.

The challenge of persuading the Japanese to lift their ban is twofold. American producers must convince Japan that U.S. meat-safety standards are adequate. And they also have to sell the Japanese on a double-standard. Indeed, while U.S. officials lobby Japan to lift its beef ban, the United States continues to ban imports of Japanese beef. Japan never exported very much beef to the United States - or anywhere. But now, the United States allows none.

Japan had a case of mad cow disease in 2001. Japanese consumers reacted harshly. Beef consumption there dropped dramatically and hasn't recovered. To calm public fears, ensure meat safety and save their domestic beef industry, Japan instituted the world's strictest testing requirements. Every cow slaughtered for human consumption in Japan is tested for BSE, and the results are checked before the meat is processed. By contrast, just 20,526 of nearly 36 million cattle slaughtered in the United States last year were tested for the disease. And, as we learned last month, the results of U.S. testing for BSE isn't available for weeks, long after the meat goes to market.

With the United States saying - by maintaining the ban on Japanese beef - that Japan's safeguards remain insufficient, American beef producers may find Japan skeptical of U.S. safeguards. Indeed, the newspaper Asahi Shimbun, in its English version, noted the other day, "It is Š difficult for the United States, whose tests are not nearly as comprehensive, to push Japan to resume imports of U.S. beef."

Difficult? Perhaps impossible. "Japan's demands on testing are very reasonable," Asahi Shimbun declared in an editorial last week. "Japan tests every cow for BSE before the animal is slaughtered and insists it will not lift the ban on American beef unless the United States takes the same step for all cattle processed for export to Japan."

"If it's safe enough for you and me," the head of the Montana Stockgrowers Association told one of our reporters in Helena earlier this month, "it should be safe enough for our export partners." Perhaps so. But let's not be surprised if reopening export markets proves more difficult than telling foreign consumers, "It's safe enough for us."
 

Jason

Well-known member
This is an official deqal that testing will equal buying?

"Japan's demands on testing are very reasonable," Asahi Shimbun declared in an editorial last week. "Japan tests every cow for BSE before the animal is slaughtered and insists it will not lift the ban on American beef unless the United States takes the same step for all cattle processed for export to Japan."

So what is Asahi Shimbun? It sounds like a name right?

the newspaper Asahi Shimbun

A newspaper article suggests Japan would accept tested beef. Not exactly an official deal.

How about this tidbit

20,526 of nearly 36 million cattle slaughtered in the United States last year were tested for the disease. And, as we learned last month, the results of U.S. testing for BSE isn't available for weeks, long after the meat goes to market.

and we're supposed to believe 100% testing won't slow the chains or cost more than $20 per head.

Still think 100% testing will open markets?
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
Has CAB increased demand? When did we get an official request for that?

If testing will slow the chains too much or cost too much, THE PACKER DOESN'T HAVE TO DO IT! Jeeze, Jason, you act like this is a mandatory deal everybody would have to do - it's not! If you don't want to test, don't do it!

Do I think testing will move more beef? YES I DO! We're spending millions on advertising right now to "regain confidence" over there. Connect the dots, Jason. *There's obviously a trust issue. * Japan addressed their domestic trust issue with testing. Do you have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out what has already worked over there might not be a bad angle to take with our product as well?

What kind of a marketer waits for an official request for his product? The officials don't write the checks, THE CONSUMERS DO. There's an angle there, Jason. It's not hard to figure out, either.
 

Econ101

Well-known member
Jason said:
This is an official deqal that testing will equal buying?

"Japan's demands on testing are very reasonable," Asahi Shimbun declared in an editorial last week. "Japan tests every cow for BSE before the animal is slaughtered and insists it will not lift the ban on American beef unless the United States takes the same step for all cattle processed for export to Japan."

So what is Asahi Shimbun? It sounds like a name right?

the newspaper Asahi Shimbun

A newspaper article suggests Japan would accept tested beef. Not exactly an official deal.

How about this tidbit

20,526 of nearly 36 million cattle slaughtered in the United States last year were tested for the disease. And, as we learned last month, the results of U.S. testing for BSE isn't available for weeks, long after the meat goes to market.

and we're supposed to believe 100% testing won't slow the chains or cost more than $20 per head.

Still think 100% testing will open markets?

I said before that you sounded like sh. I take it back, Jason, you are beginning to sound a lot like Tam.

You are in Canada and you can handle bse the best way you think you can. Please don't tell us how we should handle it and don't include yourself in the "we" in the U.S.
 

Mike

Well-known member
A newspaper article suggests Japan would accept tested beef. Not exactly an official deal.

This the biggest laugh yet Jason.

Just take things in perspective.........Had this been the ONLY article in the world that suggests testing you might have an argument.

BUT THIS IS ONE OUT OF PROBABLY 10 MILLION

It would be one thing to believe that the Japs didn't want testing and keep it to yourself.

But to come on here and argue it with all of us when there is no argument shows your complete stupidity.

Are you just too hardheaded to admit you are wrong or just too damn dumb to believe this crap. I truly would like to know.

ANOTHER TIDBIT:

"Japan will not end its import ban before May 2004 unless the United States "implements the same measures as we do" to prevent mad cow disease," Japanese Agriculture Minister Yoshiyuki Kamei said in a letter to Veneman made public on Tuesday."

Want to know what "the same measures as we do" means Jason?

Testing
 

PORKER

Well-known member
The challenge of persuading the Japanese to lift their ban is twofold. American producers must convince Japan that U.S. meat-safety standards are adequate. ONLY WITH TESTING FOR BSE * ONLY WITH TESTING FOR BSE *ONLY WITH TESTING FOR BSE * ONLY WITH TESTING FOR BSE* JASON********************************************************************************************************************************************
 

Jason

Well-known member
Post the official quote then if it is so easy.

Japan never officially said they would take our beef if we BSe tested.

There have been plenty of quotes about how they don't trust testing procedures. 100% testing could have been adopted then they could say those tests don't cut it.

Post the quote or admit defeat.

Thanks for the compliments that I sound like SH and Tam. Both common sence people.
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
Jason said:
Post the official quote then if it is so easy.

Japan never officially said they would take our beef if we BSe tested.

There have been plenty of quotes about how they don't trust testing procedures. 100% testing could have been adopted then they could say those tests don't cut it.

Post the quote or admit defeat.

Thanks for the compliments that I sound like SH and Tam. Both common sence people.

What would optional testing hurt, Jason?
 

Mike

Well-known member
Japanese reaction to BSE proposal irks US officials
Robert Roos News Editor


Apr 2, 2004 (CIDRAP News) – US officials this week proposed that the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) be called on to help resolve the US trade dispute with Japan over bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). But Japan, to the chagrin of US officials, reportedly plans to reject the proposal.

Japan wants all US cattle to be tested for BSE before it will lift its current ban on imports of American beef. The ban was imposed after the first American BSE case was discovered in December.

In a Mar 29 letter to Japanese authorities, US Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman proposed a joint American-Japanese technical consultation with the OIE to address scientific issues related to the import ban. But ensuing news reports from Japan said Yoshiyuki Kamei, Japan's agriculture minister, planned to reject the idea.

In response, Veneman and US Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick expressed dismay in a statement issued yesterday. "We are disappointed that the Japanese response to our proposal was conveyed through the press instead of engaging in constructive dialogue about the merits of the proposal," they wrote. The statement again urged Japan to agree to a consultation with the OIE.

In the Mar 29 letter, Veneman proposed that the United States and Japan agree on a list of defined questions to pose to a panel of OIE experts. She recommended that the panel be asked to determine the appropriate laboratory definition of a BSE case, with reference to the relative importance of screening and confirmatory tests. She also suggested that the panel be asked to define "specified risk materials"—cattle tissues most likely to carry BSE infectivity—in light of the risk levels in the United States and Japan.

"Our agreement on these items should improve public confidence in our food safety systems and provide a basis for the resumption of trade," Veneman wrote.

In their statement reacting to reports that Japan would reject the US proposal, Veneman and Zoellick said Japanese authorities "have continued to insist" on testing of all cattle and removal of SRMs as conditions for lifting the beef import ban.

"International experts, as noted in the recent report of the international scientific panel that reviewed the U.S. system, agree there is no scientific basis for 100% testing," the statement continued. "The most appropriate path at this point is for the scientific experts at the OIE to consult and agree upon measures that are based on science."

The OIE would be willing to follow an "aggressive timetable" in addressing the issue, Veneman and Zoellick wrote. They added, "We have submitted our system and measures to scrutiny by international experts and see no reason why Japan should be reluctant to do likewise."

The US Department of Agriculture announced plans Mar 15 to expand BSE testing from about 20,000 cattle last year to 200,000 or more this year. The department promised to test as many as possible of the estimated 446,000 cattle considered to be at increased risk for BSE, though this would still be a small fraction of all the cattle slaughtered each year.

Japan began testing all its cattle for the disease after the first Japanese case was discovered in 2001. Japan has had 11 BSE cases so far, according to the OIE.

See also:

Mar 29 letter from Veneman to Japanese Agriculture Minsiter Kamei
http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/kamei.pdf

Apr 1 statement by Veneman and Zoellick
http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0131.04.html
 

Mike

Well-known member
Statement by Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman and
U. S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick
Regarding Beef Trade with Japan
April 1, 2004



Letter to Japanese Agriculture Minister Yoshiyuki Kamei PDF File Size 126 KB (requires Adobe Acrobat)


“The United States is committed to resolving global trade issues based on science. On March 29, the Administration proposed, via a letter to Japanese Agriculture Minister Yoshiyuki Kamei, a U.S./Japan technical consultation on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the international standard setting body for animal diseases.

“Much has been learned in recent experiences with BSE and scientific consultations are warranted to enable trade in beef and beef products to resume. We have shared with all of our trading partners the results of our extensive investigation into BSE, including our aggressive response to an international panel of experts’ recommendations.

“Japanese Ministry of Agriculture authorities have continued to insist that testing of all animals and removal of specific risk materials are conditions for entry of U.S. beef products in the Japanese market.

International experts, as noted in the recent report of the international scientific panel that reviewed the U.S. system, agree there is no scientific basis for 100% testing.

“The most appropriate path at this point is for the scientific experts at the OIE to consult and agree upon measures that are based on science. We have assurances that the OIE would commit to an aggressive timetable to review a commonly accepted definition of BSE and related testing methodologies as well as a common definition of specified risk materials.

“We have submitted our system and measures to scrutiny by international experts and see no reason why Japan should be reluctant to do likewise.

“We are disappointed that the Japanese response to our proposal was conveyed through the press instead of engaging in constructive dialogue about the merits of the proposal. We urge the government of Japan to agree to an OIE consultation and to assure that its measures are consistent with its international commitments as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).”

#
 

Mike

Well-known member
Japan says test cattle for mad cow disease

Apr 21, 2004 12:00 PM
By Doreen Muzzi Farm Press Editorial Staff


United States officials say they are disappointed in Japan's continued insistence that all U.S. cattle be tested for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, more commonly known as BSE or mad cow disease.

In an April 1 statement, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman and U. S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick said, “Japanese Ministry of Agriculture authorities have continued to insist that testing of all animals and removal of specific risk materials are conditions for entry of U.S. beef products into the Japanese market. International experts, as noted in the recent report of the international scientific panel that reviewed the U.S. system, agree there is no scientific basis for 100 percent testing.”

After the first North American case of BSE was discovered in Canada in May of 2003, Japan began asking U.S. packers to verify that U.S. beef products were not made from Canadian cattle. Japan later shut its doors to U.S. beef entirely in reaction to the discovery of a cow in Washington state that tested positive for mad cow disease.

Japanese trade officials have also told U.S. cattlemen that Japan isn't likely to re-open its borders to U.S. beef until they are assured that U.S. beef products are from U.S. cattle only because the North American countries are too intertwined.

Last month, administration officials asked Japan to consider bringing the two countries together in a joint technical consultation with the World Organization for Animal Health on the issue of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE.

“Much has been learned in recent experiences with BSE and scientific consultations are warranted to enable trade in beef and beef products to resume. We have shared with all of our trading partners the results of our extensive investigation into BSE, including our aggressive response to an international panel of experts' recommendations,” Veneman and Zoellick said.

Both U.S. officials agree that the most appropriate next step is for the scientific experts at the World Organization for Animal Health to consult and agree upon measures that are based on science. “We have assurances that they would commit to an aggressive timetable to review a commonly accepted definition of BSE and related testing methodologies as well as a common definition of specified risk materials,” Veneman and Zoellick said. “We have submitted our system and measures to scrutiny by international experts and see no reason why Japan should be reluctant to do likewise.”

In addition, Veneman and Zoellick say they are “disappointed” that the Japanese response to the United State's proposal was conveyed through the press instead of Japan engaging in constructive dialogue about the merits of the proposal. “We urge the government of Japan to agree to an OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) consultation and to assure that its measures are consistent with its international commitments as a member of the World Trade Organization,” they say.

e-mail: [email protected]
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Mike- Foul!! Your confusing the issue for Jason by showing FACTS...You know Jason and his heroes Tam and SH don't believe in facts...... :wink: :lol: :lol:
 

Econ101

Well-known member
When people are so entrenched on their view point that they can't see the truth, they need to stop being listened to. SH, Tam, and now you are in that place, Jason.
 

Mike

Well-known member
Kansas beef firm setting up BSE lab
Main Category: Public Health News
Article Date: 08 Mar 2004 - 0:00am (PDT)
| email this article | printer friendly | view or write opinions |

US MEDICAL NEWS


U.S. beef producers have been losing millions of dollars a day after Japan and other countries imposed a ban on U.S. beef imports in December, when a cow in Washington State was found to be suffering from bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE.

Now, a seemingly innocuous beef-processing plant off a remote Kansas turnpike is doing something about it.

Last week, Creekstone Farms Premium Beef LLC of Arkansas City decided to test all their beef in an effort to persuade Japan to reopen its market to U.S. beef. While this decision has met resistance from both the U.S. Agriculture Department and the beef industry, its action is continuing to gain momentum and support.

This week, Creekstone began construction of a BSE lab, and believes it will be able to ship beef to Japan in three weeks or less, providing it receives approval of the U.S. and Japanese governments.

With one-third of all U.S. beef exports sold to Japan last year--by far the largest foreign market for U.S. beef--Japan's ban on all U.S. beef in December created havoc for beef producers like Creekstone. Before the ban, Creekstone sold one-fourth of its beef to Asian markets, of which 70 percent went to Japan.

Creekstone President John Stewart estimates that the company is losing 60,000 dollars to 80,000 dollars a day in revenue from lost Japanese sales. Not only have operations slowed, but the lost sales have forced the company to reduce payrolls and lay off workers.

Stewart contacted the Agriculture Department to urge that all U.S. beef be tested as demanded by Japan. However, J.B. Penn, undersecretary for farm and foreign agricultural services, merely responded that Creekstone's request was 'under evaluation.'

One reason for the department's marking time is that rapid diagnostic BSE tests, the standard used by Japan and the European Union, have not been approved in the United States, and selling any unapproved diagnostic test is against U.S. law.

Jiri Safar, professor of neurology at University of California at San Francisco, who has 11 years experience with BSE research, supports the rapid diagnostic test, which he says 'has already gone through rigorous evaluation standards in Europe and Japan.' He sees no scientific reason that would slow down the department's decision-making because 'the data are already there.'

Creekstone has had discussions with several U.S. companies, which currently sell the rapid BSE test outside of the United States, and Stewart says one company has agreed to supply Creekstone with the tests--should the Agriculture Department approve it.

Creekstone also has had talks with its Japanese trading partners, who fully back Creekstone's actions, and who have in turn, had supportive talks with the Japanese government. Japan currently tests all domestic beef for BSE, a result of their own BSE scare in 2001, and Japanese officials have maintained that U.S. beef will be imported if there is 100 percent testing.

But the position of the U.S. beef industry up to this point has been that 100 percent testing is an economic impossibility and unnecessary. J. Patrick Boyle, president of the American Meat Institute, released a statement saying BSE had always been monitored by governments and it would be unprecedented for a private company to test its own beef. 'Testing all animals is unnecessary for both disease surveillance and food safety purposes,' Boyle said.

Since last week, Creekstone has won more support from the industry and convinced some skeptics of benefits of testing. Stewart said he had received hundreds of e-mails supporting his actions.

From:
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20040306wo11.htm
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Not good enough Mike...It wasn't witnessed by Jason and SH, and signed in blood before the Pope while the Japanese Anthem played... :wink: :lol: :lol:
 

Mike

Well-known member
FROM THE "JAPAN AGRO NEWSLETTER" - PUBLISHED BY THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND FISHERIES IN JAPAN

About as "OFFICIAL" as it gets........... :lol:

No Progress in Japan-US Talks on Lifting of US Beef Import Ban



On February 11, US Trade Representative Ambassador Robert B. Zoellick, currently visiting Japan, met, in succession, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Yoshiyuki Kamei, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Shoichi Nakagawa, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, for talks on the import ban on American beef imposed by Japan following the outbreak of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) in the United States. In response to the USTR's repeated requests that the ban be lifted, the ministers reiterated Japan's position that the US must first introduce measures for the testing of all slaughtered cattle and take steps to ensure the removal of all specified risk materials from carcasses, and the two sides failed to reach agreement.



During the talks, the United States communicated its intention of sending a team of government representatives to Japan to re-open talks with a view to obtaining the lifting of the import ban. However, the United States has merely said it is "considering" whether or not to strengthen its BSE countermeasures in response to the recommendations of the international committee of experts, published on February 4, and has not changed its negative stance on the testing of all slaughtered cattle, taking the position that the need for testing of all slaughtered cattle should be assessed on a scientific basis and that care should be taken to ensure that trade is not obstructed.


[RETERN
 

Mike

Well-known member
Bush Administration Presses Japan to Readmit U.S. Beef

WASHINGTON, DC, April 5, 2004 (ENS) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is anxious to begin exporting beef Japan once again, and is pressuring the Japanese government to lift the ban on U.S. beef imports that was imposed last December. The ban was imposed by Japan and some 40 other countries when one Washington state cow was found to have the fatal brain wasting disease known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease.

The Bush administration has asked the Japanese government to participate in a technical consultation about its beef quality standards, but if that does not persuade the Japanese to let U.S. beef in again, the U.S. officials are threatening a World Trade Organization review.

In a letter to Japanese Agriculture Minister Yoshiyuki Kamei on March 29, the Bush administration proposed a U.S./Japan technical consultation on BSE with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the international standard setting body for animal diseases.

The Japanese require all cattle to be tested for the disease before they can become food for humans, and the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture has required that the United States institute universal testing before the ban can be lifted.

Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman with Japan's Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yoshiyuki Kamei at an introductory meeting held July 10, 2003. (Photo courtesy )
Japan also insists on the removal of specific risk materials such as brain and spinal cord tissue as conditions for the re-entry of U.S. beef products into the Japanese market, but the United States is not willing to test all the carcasses exported to Japan and says U.S. meatpacking practices now remove the specified risk materials.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick cited findings by an international scientific panel which said that there is no need for 100 percent testing. The United States wants the OIE consultation "to establish science-based standards that will allow resumption of trade in beef and beef products," they said.

"The most appropriate path at this point is for the scientific experts at the OIE to consult and agree upon measures that are based on science," Veneman and Zoellick said. "We urge the government of Japan to agree to an OIE consultation and to assure that its measures are consistent with its international commitments as a member of the World Trade Organization."

"We have assurances," wrote Veneman and Zoellick, "that the OIE would commit to an aggressive timetable to review a commonly accepted definition of BSE and related testing methodologies as well as a common definition of specified risk materials."

"We have submitted our system and measures to scrutiny by international experts and see no reason why Japan should be reluctant to do likewise," the U.S. officials wrote.

"We are disappointed that the Japanese response to our proposal was conveyed through the press instead of engaging in constructive dialogue about the merits of the proposal," wrote Veneman and Zoellick.

"We urge the government of Japan to agree to an OIE consultation and to assure that its measures are consistent with its international commitments as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)."

At a news conference Friday, Agriculture Minister Kamei called the U.S. statement "regrettable."

Japan has had its own troubles with mad cow disease. The first detection of BSE in Japan occurred in September of 2001, and to date 11 cases in total have been confirmed, including one case in March 2004.


U.S. Agriculture Department technicians examine a beef carcass. (Photo courtesy USDA)
Negative reactions by Japanese consumers to the confirmation of BSE in Japan’s cattle herd had a devastating effect on overall demand and on beef imports.
Japan is the largest overseas market for U.S. beef. Japan imported a record 720,000 metric tons of beef in 2000, but weak consumer demand dropped beef imports to 675,000 tons in 2001.

A third of all the beef consumed in Japan once came from the United States. Japan also banned beef from Canada after it was confirmed that the diseased U.S. cow was brought into the United States from Canada.

Meanwhile, U.S. cattle ranchers are working towards finding a unified approach to the multiple facets of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in North America. A BSE summit to be held April 26-27 in Fort Worth, Texas will address the issue.

The conference is being coordinated on behalf of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and state beef councils by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). Cattle ranchers and meatpackers from Canada and Mexico have been invited, as well as the U.S. federal agencies working on the BSE issue. Invitations will be extended to representatives from every industry segment touched by the BSE situation, including the rendering, feed and dairy industries.

"Much in our industry has changed since December 23, and we as an industry need to identify what we can do to further assure our customers about the safety of the U.S. beef supply," said J.O. Reagan, Ph.D., NCBA vice president of research and knowledge management. As part of this effort, the Beef Industry Food Safety Council will reactivate its BSE Working Group, which will take a longer term look at the devastating disease.

In March the USDA announced plans to test more than 221,000 animals over a 12 to 18 month period beginning in June. Included would be 201,000 animals considered to be at high risk of BSE because they show signs of nervous system disorders such as twitching.

Random tests also will be conducted on about 20,000 older animals sent to slaughter even though they appear healthy. Those tests are aimed at sampling cattle old enough to have eaten feed produced before 1997, when the Food and Drug Administration banned the use of cattle tissue in feed for other cattle.

Mad cow disease spreads from one animal to another by consumption of feed, such as blood or meat meal, that has been contaminated by abnormal proteins from the nervous system tissue of an infected animal.

The human form of the disease can be transmitted if a human being eats BSE infected meat, or possibly through blood transfusions.
 

Mike

Well-known member
Despite 'limitations,' Japan to continue blanket BSE testing
July 7, 2004
Meatingplace.com
Ann Bagel
http://www.meatingplace.com/
A senior farm ministry official said Japan will continue blanket testing for bovine spongiform encephalopathy despite the "technical limitations" of the approach, The Japan Times reported.
During three days of trade talks with the United States last week, Japan admitted that blanket screening has shortcomings in determining whether young cattle have been infected with the brain-wasting disease. (See Japan said to have backed off 100 percent BSE testing demand at trade meeting, Meatingplace.com, July 2, 2004.)
According to Mamoru Ishihara, Japan's vice minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, the country will not immediately change its policy of testing all slaughtered cattle for BSE because there is no established theory yet for detecting the disease.
Japan closed its border to U.S. beef imports after a Washington state cow was found to have BSE last December. Blanket BSE testing has been Japan's main condition for re-establishing beef trade, but the U.S. has rejected this demand, saying it has no scientific basis.
 

Kathy

Well-known member
The Alberta Government is refusing to renew one of our local vets membership in the Alberta Veterinary Association - because he tested too many animals for BSE.

Under the newer rules for BSE, (by the way which are harder than ever to get an animal tested), he was testing unsuitable animals. After all they were only sick, not necessarily sick with a neurological disease.

So now if an animal dies of pneumonia, or some other known disease, and it did not show any clinical signs of BSE, then you cannot have it tested.


This makes no sense to those who wants to deal with the BSE situation head on. Instead, we have smoke and mirrors and more obstacles put in front of us.

I gave this example to a group the other day: If I ran over ten people on the streets of Calgary, and they all died of head injuries and internal bleeding - would that preclude the possibility that 4 had diabetes, 7 had cancer, 5 had heart disease and 2 had Alzheimer's disease? No.

When an autopsy is performed, the coroner doesn't stop at the 1st cause of death because most people die because their heart quits. There is always secondary manisfestations listed on the autopsy report. (I know this as I used to spend hours typing them up for the pathologists).

Our local vet deserves to keep his credentials, in my opinion. He was following the original rules for BSE testing, which he was trained under. It is just so sad that our Alberta government wants to limit the number of animals tested, to the numbers required by the OIE and WHO.

They are no different than all the other corporations out there that only perform to what the regulations force them to.

Canada will never test all animals, at least not until the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has a patented test in their own name, so they don't have to pay anybody else for test kits/rights.
 
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