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Manufacturer to rev up marketing for BSE test kits
By Tom Johnston on 4/12/2007 for Meatingplace.com
Creekstone Farms Premium Beef isn't the only company hoping a federal court ruling takes effect and allows it to test its cattle for bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The manufacturer of the test kit also is anticipating a favorable outcome.
Wheat Ridge, Colo.-based GeneThera, Inc. announced it is crafting a comprehensive marketing plan to build brand awareness among ranchers and slaughterhouses, and to reinforce the importance of testing all cattle for BSE.
The only thing preventing that is the pending appeal of a federal judge's recent ruling that USDA doesn't have the authority to regulate BSE testing. If USDA doesn't appeal by June 1, the order will immediately take effect, paving the way for Creekstone and other U.S. meatpackers to test animals for the disease.
"GeneThera intends to start (BSE) testing as soon as private companies will be allowed to do so," said Dr. Tony Milici, CEO of GeneThera. "We believe there will be a great demand by meatpackers for this kind of testing once any government restraints are removed. If meatpackers advertise their product as (BSE) free, it should be possible for the U.S. beef industry to fully regain access to international markets such as Japan and Korea."
Creekstone, based in Arkansas City, Kan., sued USDA in March 2006, seeking the right to test 100 percent of its animals for BSE in an effort to reassure its customers, especially those that closed their markets to U.S. beef after the first U.S. discovery of BSE in 2003, that its product was safe for human consumption.
The company already has the protocols in place to test its animals. (See Creekstone ready, willing and able – but waiting – to test animals for BSE on Meatingplace.com, April 3, 2007.)
Manufacturer to rev up marketing for BSE test kits
By Tom Johnston on 4/12/2007 for Meatingplace.com
Creekstone Farms Premium Beef isn't the only company hoping a federal court ruling takes effect and allows it to test its cattle for bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The manufacturer of the test kit also is anticipating a favorable outcome.
Wheat Ridge, Colo.-based GeneThera, Inc. announced it is crafting a comprehensive marketing plan to build brand awareness among ranchers and slaughterhouses, and to reinforce the importance of testing all cattle for BSE.
The only thing preventing that is the pending appeal of a federal judge's recent ruling that USDA doesn't have the authority to regulate BSE testing. If USDA doesn't appeal by June 1, the order will immediately take effect, paving the way for Creekstone and other U.S. meatpackers to test animals for the disease.
"GeneThera intends to start (BSE) testing as soon as private companies will be allowed to do so," said Dr. Tony Milici, CEO of GeneThera. "We believe there will be a great demand by meatpackers for this kind of testing once any government restraints are removed. If meatpackers advertise their product as (BSE) free, it should be possible for the U.S. beef industry to fully regain access to international markets such as Japan and Korea."
Creekstone, based in Arkansas City, Kan., sued USDA in March 2006, seeking the right to test 100 percent of its animals for BSE in an effort to reassure its customers, especially those that closed their markets to U.S. beef after the first U.S. discovery of BSE in 2003, that its product was safe for human consumption.
The company already has the protocols in place to test its animals. (See Creekstone ready, willing and able – but waiting – to test animals for BSE on Meatingplace.com, April 3, 2007.)