Our ability to export will continue to be impacted negatively as it has been until we come in line with OIE and common practice in Europe/Japan.
US Guidelines;
A. Experience in Europe has shown that testing high-risk cattle is the method most likely to identify BSE if it is present. Therefore, USDA has tailored its testing program to collect the majority of samples from the following categories:
* Nonambulatory cattle;
* Cattle exhibiting signs of a central nervous system disorder;
* Cattle exhibiting other signs that may be associated with BSE, such as emaciation or injury; and
* Dead cattle.
USDA personnel will also sample all cattle condemned on ante-mortem inspection by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/bse_testing/faq.html#highrisk
Compared to Euro testing;
"What can the test do early in the infection?
No method will detect BSE early in the infection. BSE has an average incubation period of 4-6 years. Therefore the EU testing programmes are targeted at animals over 30 months."
"In addition to the compulsory examination of all animals showing signs suggestive of BSE, rapid post mortem testing for BSE must, as of 1 January 2001, be carried out on:
- all cattle over 30 months of age slaughtered as emergencies or showing signs of any kind of illness at the ante mortem inspection in the slaughterhouse;
- a random sample of cattle that have died on the farm;
- healthy animals over 30 months destined for human consumption (with the exception of Austria, Sweden and Finland, where a scientific assessment shows that the risk of BSE is lower).
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/index.jsp?file=areasofi/bse/bse_weekly.xml
Implying that the EU tests more rigiriously then the US is in fact distorting one key fact : " THe EU has had
10, confirmed cases in 2005 compared to the US's NONE., add in the past cases, and one can see the need for the Extensive testing in Europe. , Japan has
11
http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/english/html/fafacts/bse/bse.htm
NOW on the OIE PLEASE READ carefully!!!
"The OIE standards on BSE do not suggest a total embargo of animals and animal products coming from BSE-infected countries, not even from countries that have a high BSE risk, according to the OIE statement. To protect human and animal health, the standards recommend risk-mitigating measures that match the degree of risk in the infected countries."
"
In fact, the United States, Canada, and Mexico are among the countries that have not completely followed the OIE standards, Dr. Fernandez said. All three countries have trade regulations that are more restrictive than the OIE guidelines recommend. He said the U.S. BSE measures tried to take into account the scientific understanding of BSE and public safety;
http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/dec03/031215i.asp
So in FACT to bring our "industry standards" in compliance with other countries and the OIE, we would in fact have to "weaken" our current standards. So short of testing every "cow" which you claim not to want we are above the common standards of the EU, Japan and the OIE.
I do not claim to know much about BSE or it's non-existance in the market, But research proves that most cases stem from the UK market and the EU,. while I am sure that even Canada's case could be traced to this one market, it would be wrong to destroy the whole of the industry in an effort to make a point. BSE is not a problem within the US market due to aggressive practices taken, not lax rules.