U.S. Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan., said his staff is trying to broker an
agreement with USDA to allow Arkansas City, Kan.-based Creekstone Farms to
test all its animals for bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
"[Tiahrt] is attempting to facilitate a resolution that would allow
Creekstone to screen for BSE in accordance with protocols of certain Asian
countries, while meeting the concerns of the USDA," Chuck Knapp, spokesman
for the congressman, told the Meatingplace.com in an email. "Creekstone's
proposal would help allay food safety concerns of their Asian customers,
while not costing the American taxpayer a penny."
"We have not yet heard back from USDA regarding our latest communication,"
Knapp said.
Creekstone COO Bill Fielding told the Meatingplace.com that his company has
won support for its proposed expansion of testing from several other
congressmen and senators besides Tiahrt. Fielding declined to identify the
other lawmakers.
100 percent testing criticized
Creekstone's proposal has been met with unusually blunt and public
opposition from USDA. Lisa Ferguson, a senior staff veterinarian at USDA's
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, told the Meatingplace.com on
Wednesday that attempts by Creekstone to market any product as being 100
percent BSE-tested would be illegal because USDA has not yet licensed any of
the rapid diagnostic tests used by the European Union, Japan or South Korea.
On Thursday, the agency was apparently backpedaling on its position,
declining mainstream media requests to interview Ferguson and other
officials, and issuing a statement saying it received Creekstone's proposal
and was "evaluating the several implications of the proposal, including the
legal, regulatory, trade and other considerations" before responding.
The proposal has not won support from either the National Meat Association
nor from the American Meat Institute. AMI President J. Patrick Boyle issued
a written statement Thursday noting that BSE testing has always been
conducted exclusively by the government.
"While we understand that some companies may wish to engage in BSE testing
as part of a marketing program, such an arrangement would be unprecedented,"
Boyle said.
Creekstone management says the beef ban is costing the company about $80,000
each day. The company will likely have to pare its workforce of about 750
employees by up to 15 percent in the coming weeks unless it can again ship
its product to Asian customers.
USDA officials said they have "strong concerns" about the possibility of
false positives that could result from rapid testing and the potential
adverse impact possible false positive readings could have on consumer
confidence in beef, livestock markets and overseas trade.
Creekstone CEO John Stewart told the Meatingplace.com on Thursday that he
was "appalled and disgusted" by what he said were USDA's "delaying tactics"
in helping to resolve the difference between Creekstone's plans to expand
BSE testing and USDA's vow to not allow it.
"I understand the political concerns USDA is facing, but that's not our
problem," Stewart said. "We are not going to fold up our tent and go home on
this issue. It's time for USDA to fess-up, admit they are wrong, and make
some good decisions."
Stewart said he doesn't understand the agency's opposition to the company's
plans and said public comments by USDA officials that they feared false
positives are red herrings. Stewart said USDA might be seeking to divert
attention from demands by foreign governments to test all cattle, something
the agency opposes because it claims the best available science shows there
is no need for blanket BSE testing.
USDA suggests strengthening BSE testing regimen
On Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman voiced readiness to strengthen
testing for BSE by mainly targeting animals aged 30 months or older.
Testifying before the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on
Agriculture, Veneman did not specify how many more animals might be tested
as part of what she called "a very aggressive surveillance plan." The tests
will include some apparently healthy animals, she said, in addition to those
thought to be at high risk.
Both Fielding and Stewart said USDA may lack the authority to prevent the
company from expanding its testing, and criticized the agency for not
expediting pending applications from companies seeking to market the BSE
rapid tests.
Fielding said the company has won assurances from Asian trade officials and
customers that they will accept Creekstone product if the company can
certify that all of it is derived from only BSE-tested animals.
"We will likely use the exact same tests being used by Japan and South
Korea," Fielding said.
Stewart said he feared the issue might have to be resolved in the courts.
Creekstone Farms opened in 2003 after it bought the state-of-the-art Future
Beef slaughter plant after Future Beef filed for bankruptcy. The plant
slaughters about 1,000 cattle per day and markets its product through the
Creekstone Farms Premium Black Angus Beef program. Fielding estimates about
15 percent of the company's business come from trade with Asian countries.
Fielding said the tests will cost the company about $20 per animals, and
that the company's customers have agreed to absorb the additional cost.
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http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/8049807.htm
Posted on Thu, Feb. 26, 2004