Washington Cattlemen's Association responds to USDA
Ellensburg - Washington Cattlemen's Association response to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) PROPOSAL TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL IMPORTS FROM BSE MINIMAL-RISK COUNTRIES
The Washington Cattlemen's Association believes that the statements made by USDA representative Dr. John Clifford regarding the PROPOSAL TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL IMPORTS FROM BSE MINIMAL-RISK COUNTRIES were inappropriate and demonstrated the USDA’s total lack of understanding regarding the potential impacts of this decision to the economic livelihoods of US cattlemen.
The WCA has several concerns about the USDA’s draft rule to allow Over Thirty Month (OTM) of age live cattle and beef products to be imported into the United States.
The WCA believes that the USDA must clearly demonstrate how they intend to track imported Canadian beef and beef products that are over thirty months of age. The USDA must also contact all of the United States (US) beef industry export trading countries and get assurances from them that implementation of this rule will not impair the US beef industry from regaining full unrestricted access into their markets.
The WCA has concerns in the following areas:
1.
2. What system is the USDA planning to use to trace these beef products?
3. The WCA believes it is unacceptable to allow OTM beef and beef products to be imported from Canada into the USA without any age requirements or restrictions.
The WCA strongly recommends that the USDA immediately implement Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) to allow consumers the ability to determine the origin of their food. Without full and immediate implementation of Mandatory COOL the WCA will not support any form of the USDA’s rule that allows for Canadian OTM live cattle, beef, and beef products to be imported.
Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling MT 2004-1
WHEREAS, the WCA believes consumers should know where the beef they purchase was born, raised and processed; and
WHEREAS, efforts are underway to prevent Country-of-Origin Labeling from becoming mandatory; and
WHEREAS, Country-of-Origin Labeling will provide needed information to the consumers of beef, as well as help American beef producers market their product,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Washington Cattlemen's Association supports mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling when USDA-AMS addresses the following concerns:
1. USDA puts in rule that a signed affidavit satisfies the requirement for verification of origin.
2. Poultry is a covered product, and
3. All points of sale are covered under the rule.
The WCA insists that the USDA require the PERMANENT MARK of the “CAN” hot iron brand and a low frequency ISO compliant Radio Frequency Tag (RFID) be placed in the left ear of every live animal that is not being sent directly to slaughter.
The WCA also insists the CFIA and the USDA provide to the State Veterinarian in the state that is receiving imported Canadian cattle all animal health and identification documentation prior to importation.
The WCA strongly recommends that the USDA grant each State Veterinarian and Director of Agriculture complete authority to ensure that every animal health and animal identification regulation is followed. In the event that a State Veterinarian or Director of Agriculture finds an issue of noncompliance, the USDA will COMPLETELY support the actions of the State officials as they take enforcement measures. The USDA must have strict penalties in place that will act as a strong deterrent to violating this rule. The USDA must bring criminal charges against anyone that violates the rules. The WCA believes that in the event of non-compliance the entire shipment of live animals must be returned to Canada immediately. Importers and exporters that are found to be in violation of the rule must permanently lose their licenses and pay substantial fiscal penalties. Such fines will be paid to the animal health department of the state where the violations occurred.
The WCA believes that Canadian cattle must meet all of Washington State’s animal health requirements. The WCA also believes that importers must report all animal movements to the Washington State Department of Agriculture prior to importation to or through Washington State.
The WCA believes that March 1, 1999 is an unacceptable birth date for Canadian cattle eligible for importation. IF OTM Cattle are allowed to be imported; the WCA strongly recommends the use of the following age model:
• March 13, 2007 – allow import of 30-month or younger live cattle (which includes breeding cattle).
Following a 24-month probationary period the age can be raised by 12 months
• March 13, 2009 – allow 42-month old live cattle, beef cattle and beef products (which includes breeding cattle).
Following a 24-month probationary period the age can be raised by 12 months
• March 13, 2011 – allow import of 54-month and younger live cattle, beef cattle and beef products (which includes breeding cattle).
Following a 24-month probationary period the age can be raised to 5 years
After 6 years of importing live cattle over thirty months of age without any animal health or food safety issues, the USDA may then allow all cattle born on or after March 13, 2007 to be imported into the U.S..
WCA President, Jim Sizemore- “It appears that the USDA is trying to lead by example (i.e. the other countries of the world) by issuing this rule, but this rule doesn’t impact the USDA’s bottom line, like it does mine”.
Ellensburg - Washington Cattlemen's Association response to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) PROPOSAL TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL IMPORTS FROM BSE MINIMAL-RISK COUNTRIES
The Washington Cattlemen's Association believes that the statements made by USDA representative Dr. John Clifford regarding the PROPOSAL TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL IMPORTS FROM BSE MINIMAL-RISK COUNTRIES were inappropriate and demonstrated the USDA’s total lack of understanding regarding the potential impacts of this decision to the economic livelihoods of US cattlemen.
The WCA has several concerns about the USDA’s draft rule to allow Over Thirty Month (OTM) of age live cattle and beef products to be imported into the United States.
The WCA believes that the USDA must clearly demonstrate how they intend to track imported Canadian beef and beef products that are over thirty months of age. The USDA must also contact all of the United States (US) beef industry export trading countries and get assurances from them that implementation of this rule will not impair the US beef industry from regaining full unrestricted access into their markets.
The WCA has concerns in the following areas:
1.
Therefore, how can age be verified? The WCA is also concerned about the accuracy of dentition in older cattle since accuracy tends to drop off after four years of age.How will the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the USDA accurately determine the age of imported beef and beef products? The Canadian national cattle ID program didn’t become mandatory until 2002; it is still not mandatory to enter birthdate information into the database.
2. What system is the USDA planning to use to trace these beef products?
3. The WCA believes it is unacceptable to allow OTM beef and beef products to be imported from Canada into the USA without any age requirements or restrictions.
The WCA strongly recommends that the USDA immediately implement Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) to allow consumers the ability to determine the origin of their food. Without full and immediate implementation of Mandatory COOL the WCA will not support any form of the USDA’s rule that allows for Canadian OTM live cattle, beef, and beef products to be imported.
Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling MT 2004-1
WHEREAS, the WCA believes consumers should know where the beef they purchase was born, raised and processed; and
WHEREAS, efforts are underway to prevent Country-of-Origin Labeling from becoming mandatory; and
WHEREAS, Country-of-Origin Labeling will provide needed information to the consumers of beef, as well as help American beef producers market their product,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Washington Cattlemen's Association supports mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling when USDA-AMS addresses the following concerns:
1. USDA puts in rule that a signed affidavit satisfies the requirement for verification of origin.
2. Poultry is a covered product, and
3. All points of sale are covered under the rule.
The WCA insists that the USDA require the PERMANENT MARK of the “CAN” hot iron brand and a low frequency ISO compliant Radio Frequency Tag (RFID) be placed in the left ear of every live animal that is not being sent directly to slaughter.
The WCA also insists the CFIA and the USDA provide to the State Veterinarian in the state that is receiving imported Canadian cattle all animal health and identification documentation prior to importation.
The WCA strongly recommends that the USDA grant each State Veterinarian and Director of Agriculture complete authority to ensure that every animal health and animal identification regulation is followed. In the event that a State Veterinarian or Director of Agriculture finds an issue of noncompliance, the USDA will COMPLETELY support the actions of the State officials as they take enforcement measures. The USDA must have strict penalties in place that will act as a strong deterrent to violating this rule. The USDA must bring criminal charges against anyone that violates the rules. The WCA believes that in the event of non-compliance the entire shipment of live animals must be returned to Canada immediately. Importers and exporters that are found to be in violation of the rule must permanently lose their licenses and pay substantial fiscal penalties. Such fines will be paid to the animal health department of the state where the violations occurred.
The WCA believes that Canadian cattle must meet all of Washington State’s animal health requirements. The WCA also believes that importers must report all animal movements to the Washington State Department of Agriculture prior to importation to or through Washington State.
The WCA believes that March 1, 1999 is an unacceptable birth date for Canadian cattle eligible for importation. IF OTM Cattle are allowed to be imported; the WCA strongly recommends the use of the following age model:
• March 13, 2007 – allow import of 30-month or younger live cattle (which includes breeding cattle).
Following a 24-month probationary period the age can be raised by 12 months
• March 13, 2009 – allow 42-month old live cattle, beef cattle and beef products (which includes breeding cattle).
Following a 24-month probationary period the age can be raised by 12 months
• March 13, 2011 – allow import of 54-month and younger live cattle, beef cattle and beef products (which includes breeding cattle).
Following a 24-month probationary period the age can be raised to 5 years
After 6 years of importing live cattle over thirty months of age without any animal health or food safety issues, the USDA may then allow all cattle born on or after March 13, 2007 to be imported into the U.S..
WCA President, Jim Sizemore- “It appears that the USDA is trying to lead by example (i.e. the other countries of the world) by issuing this rule, but this rule doesn’t impact the USDA’s bottom line, like it does mine”.