NCBA files to open CAN border
NCBA Executive Committee Reviews Draft of Amicus Brief for 9th Circuit Court
Goal: To Represent the Science and Safety of Beef
Washington, D.C. April 15, 2005 The National Cattlemen¹s Beef Association¹s (NCBA) Executive Committee, comprised of 31 voting members, all of whom are beef producers from across the country, have reviewed a draft of an amicus brief that will be submitted to the 9th Circuit Court in the case of R-CALF vs. USDA, APHIS and Mike Johanns In His Capacity as the Secretary of Agriculture. Amicus, literally meaning ³friend of the court,² is a brief filed by someone who is not party to the litigation but believes the court's decision may affect its interest. The deadline for submission is April 21, 2005.
The purpose of the amicus brief is to demonstrate to the court that the Minimal Risk Rule is based on science that consistently shows beef is safe from BSE.
In addition to being reviewed by NCBA¹s executive committee, it also is being considered by more than 20 state cattlemen and other agriculture organizations that feel equally passionate about ensuring beef¹s safety is represented in the hearing.
³The preliminary injunction granted by a district court in Montana is founded on a concern over human and animal health. The science clearly states beef is safe from BSE. Our goal is to ensure the Circuit Court, which is considering the government¹s appeal to this injunction, has the information it needs to make a decision based on science,² said Jim McAdams, Texas cattle producer and NCBA president. ³The fact of the matter is court discussions become a matter of public record, and as an industry, ranchers and farmers will not stand idly by and let a lack of information or misinformation from activists groups within our industry question the safety of beef.²
The injunction was granted to R-CALF in early March. R-CALF, an acronym for Ranchers-Cattlemen¹s Action Legal Fund, has said in its efforts to maintain trade barriers with Canada that ³recent scientific evidence has revealed that the agent responsible for BSE contamination has recently been found not just in nerve tissue, but in muscle tissue as well, raising concerns that standards should be raised, not lowered.²
³It is inexcusable for a group of our own cattlemen to misrepresent the science to maintain its isolationist position. Consumers have every reason to believe in beef¹s safety. BSE infectivity has never been found in meat,² said McAdams. ³NCBA and American ranchers and farmers are providing leadership for our industry by ensuring that the only cattle industry voice in this debate is not that of an isolationist-motivated activist group,² he said.
BSE experts from the World Organization for Animal Health agree that BSE is not a public health or herd health risk when key firewalls are in place to protect consumers and cattle, even when a case of BSE is found. The United States has these firewalls in place, as does Canada.
At NCBA¹s annual meeting in February, cattle producers directed its association staff to resolve 11 challenges before resuming trade with Canada. NCBA has made considerable progress on these directives. Remaining issues include:
Achieving science-based harmonization of blue tongue and anaplasmosis trade requirements for breeding cattle. This effort is supported by Canadian officials and the Canadian beef industry; however, the recent injunction is testing Canada¹s willingness to resolve this barrier.
Re-opening markets that are closed to U.S. beef, specifically Japan. Smaller export markets are continuing to open, including the recent announcements of trade resumption with Egypt and Taiwan, but NCBA is continuing to pressure Congress and the Administration to push for a resolution on Japan. Japanese officials have said that R-Calf¹s injunction is stalling progress on opening this key market.
³U.S. cattlemen benefit from global trade. Prior to our border slamming shut after December 23, 2003, the value of U.S. beef exports was roughly $175 per head on fed cattle prices. In order to ensure a future for tomorrow¹s cattlemen, we need growth in our industry. We cannot grow by artificially limiting supply or limiting ourselves to U.S. consumers that represent only four percent of the world¹s population. The guiding principle of our trade relations, and fair trade, must be science,² said McAdams.
Consumer confidence in the safety of beef has remained strong, despite the December 23, 2003, discovery and subsequent announcements. Likewise, consumer beef demand was up nearly eight percent in 2004, which is in part a testament to the checkoff-funded work of America¹s beef producers.
NCBA Executive Committee Reviews Draft of Amicus Brief for 9th Circuit Court
Goal: To Represent the Science and Safety of Beef
Washington, D.C. April 15, 2005 The National Cattlemen¹s Beef Association¹s (NCBA) Executive Committee, comprised of 31 voting members, all of whom are beef producers from across the country, have reviewed a draft of an amicus brief that will be submitted to the 9th Circuit Court in the case of R-CALF vs. USDA, APHIS and Mike Johanns In His Capacity as the Secretary of Agriculture. Amicus, literally meaning ³friend of the court,² is a brief filed by someone who is not party to the litigation but believes the court's decision may affect its interest. The deadline for submission is April 21, 2005.
The purpose of the amicus brief is to demonstrate to the court that the Minimal Risk Rule is based on science that consistently shows beef is safe from BSE.
In addition to being reviewed by NCBA¹s executive committee, it also is being considered by more than 20 state cattlemen and other agriculture organizations that feel equally passionate about ensuring beef¹s safety is represented in the hearing.
³The preliminary injunction granted by a district court in Montana is founded on a concern over human and animal health. The science clearly states beef is safe from BSE. Our goal is to ensure the Circuit Court, which is considering the government¹s appeal to this injunction, has the information it needs to make a decision based on science,² said Jim McAdams, Texas cattle producer and NCBA president. ³The fact of the matter is court discussions become a matter of public record, and as an industry, ranchers and farmers will not stand idly by and let a lack of information or misinformation from activists groups within our industry question the safety of beef.²
The injunction was granted to R-CALF in early March. R-CALF, an acronym for Ranchers-Cattlemen¹s Action Legal Fund, has said in its efforts to maintain trade barriers with Canada that ³recent scientific evidence has revealed that the agent responsible for BSE contamination has recently been found not just in nerve tissue, but in muscle tissue as well, raising concerns that standards should be raised, not lowered.²
³It is inexcusable for a group of our own cattlemen to misrepresent the science to maintain its isolationist position. Consumers have every reason to believe in beef¹s safety. BSE infectivity has never been found in meat,² said McAdams. ³NCBA and American ranchers and farmers are providing leadership for our industry by ensuring that the only cattle industry voice in this debate is not that of an isolationist-motivated activist group,² he said.
BSE experts from the World Organization for Animal Health agree that BSE is not a public health or herd health risk when key firewalls are in place to protect consumers and cattle, even when a case of BSE is found. The United States has these firewalls in place, as does Canada.
At NCBA¹s annual meeting in February, cattle producers directed its association staff to resolve 11 challenges before resuming trade with Canada. NCBA has made considerable progress on these directives. Remaining issues include:
Achieving science-based harmonization of blue tongue and anaplasmosis trade requirements for breeding cattle. This effort is supported by Canadian officials and the Canadian beef industry; however, the recent injunction is testing Canada¹s willingness to resolve this barrier.
Re-opening markets that are closed to U.S. beef, specifically Japan. Smaller export markets are continuing to open, including the recent announcements of trade resumption with Egypt and Taiwan, but NCBA is continuing to pressure Congress and the Administration to push for a resolution on Japan. Japanese officials have said that R-Calf¹s injunction is stalling progress on opening this key market.
³U.S. cattlemen benefit from global trade. Prior to our border slamming shut after December 23, 2003, the value of U.S. beef exports was roughly $175 per head on fed cattle prices. In order to ensure a future for tomorrow¹s cattlemen, we need growth in our industry. We cannot grow by artificially limiting supply or limiting ourselves to U.S. consumers that represent only four percent of the world¹s population. The guiding principle of our trade relations, and fair trade, must be science,² said McAdams.
Consumer confidence in the safety of beef has remained strong, despite the December 23, 2003, discovery and subsequent announcements. Likewise, consumer beef demand was up nearly eight percent in 2004, which is in part a testament to the checkoff-funded work of America¹s beef producers.
