agman said:
Clarence said:
Well Agman, as you stated. the traceback was completed previously. What was the reason for a re-test? Forage for the media, perhaps?
Great attempt at nothing Clarence. Tell me, what does traceback have to do with an additonal test being ordered at the urging of the OIG? Are you suggesting that only imported cattle would now be subjected to the Western Blot test?!!!! The OIG did not oder traceback, they suggested the latter test be performed in addition to the initial test.
Agman- This article and Johanns comments suggest he was blindsided by the OIG- either that or he has absolutely no idea what is happening within his department-- doesn't look good either way...He will end up a Lameduck secretary spending most of his watch cleaning up after Ms. Vennaman...He has already questioned her OTM border opening rule and put that on hold- now finds that the testing may have been inadequate- Court has ruled they put trade economics before consumer and US herd safety...What else in the US's BSE policy and proposed border rules is flawed? :???: :? Best thing he could do is put all changes on hold until OIG is finished with their investigations and work with them to further develop the US's policy.....But I'm sure big money will force him to stumble and bumble forward......And it already sounds like another DC turf battle emerging........
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Today 6/24/2005 12:38:00 PM
Cattle Alert: USDA Chief Was Unaware Of Decision On BSE Sample
Johanns said he did not know whether USDA Inspector General Phyllis Fong had the authority to order the retest of the sample using a Western blot method, as opposed to the immunohistochemistry, or IHC, test USDA scientists previously used.
But he stressed he "should be involved in all decisions of this significance."
Instead, Johanns said he was informed by Dale Moore, his chief of staff, after the retesting was already underway.
"It caught me by surprise, to be very honest with you," he said.
Johanns said the question of authority to call for the retesting lies in the disputed question of whether it was an audit or operations function.
He said that while the inspector general "has the right to audit" and USDA "has an obligation to cooperate" with those audits, "if it's operations, then it's in my domain."
On June 15 the inspector general released a statement saying its auditors "noted an unusual pattern of conflicting test results on one sample and initiated testing on that sample." USDA announced on June 10 that the additional testing produced a positive result fro BSE.