COOL update
Recent media reports speculating about the World Trade Organization (WTO) compliance panel process regarding Canada and Mexico's challenge to U.S. mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) have resulted in more than a few media calls to the Canadian Cattlemen's Association (CCA).
The CCA does not comment on speculation, noting that the official compliance panel decision remains confidential until the WTO publishes it, but offers the following general comment about Canada's COOL challenge at the WTO:
The CCA believes in the strength of Canada's arguments that were put forth to the panel and we continue to hold the view that COOL discriminates against live imports of cattle and hogs into the U.S. marketplace. The CCA believes that the only way to bring COOL into compliance is through legislative change, either by repeal or amendment of the COOL statute. Such action must result in elimination of the segregation of imported livestock in the U.S.
Until the U.S. comes into compliance with its WTO obligations, the CCA will continue to advocate that the Government of Canada prepare to impose prohibitively high tariffs on key U.S. exports to Canada, including beef.
The CCA has been working hard with its U.S. allies to get COOL fixed. In late July, CCA leadership discussed COOL at length at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) summer conference in Denver.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Gerry Ritz also attended the conference. In reference to the ongoing WTO dispute, Ritz told delegates that if successful in its challenge, Canada will seek to retaliate as quickly as possible and will target everything from California wine to Minnesota mattresses. He continued the straight talk on COOL during a special guest appearance at the CCA Semi-Annual in Charlottetown, PEI.
The potential for retaliatory tariffs continues to command the attention of the U.S. Congress. In the August 5 edition of Action News, we told you about the letter 110 Members of Congress sent to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and U.S. Trade Representative requesting that, should the WTO rule against the U.S., the Secretary of Agriculture 'rescind the final rule while Congress works to permanently resolve the issue.'
The negative impact of Canadian and Mexican retaliation to the state of Iowa – a leading supporter of COOL – was discussed in an op-ed published in the Des Moines Register. The Corn Refiners Association in Washington, D.C. said $300 million worth of annual exports could be impacted, including commodities such as pork, corn, some prepared foods while the corn wet milling industry could lose $500 million in annual sales to Mexico if corn sweeteners are targeted.
They suggest a solution put forth by a broad coalition of U.S. industries that have no stake in the beef industry: should the WTO find that COOL is in violation of the U.S.'s international trade obligations, the Secretary of Agriculture should immediately suspend COOL until Congress can take legislative action to resolve the dispute.
http://www.cattle.ca/assets/ActionNews/action-news-090214.pdf
The most recent assessments (and reassessments) were published in June 2005 (Table I; 18), and included the categorisation of Canada, the USA, and Mexico as GBR III. Although only Canada and the USA have reported cases, the historically open system of trade in North America suggests that it is likely that BSE is present also in Mexico.
http://www.oie.int/boutique/extrait/06heim937950.pdf
IN SHORT, AND IN A NUT SHELL ;
(Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 23 May 2006)
11. Information published by the OIE is derived from appropriate declarations made by the official Veterinary Services of Member Countries. The OIE is not responsible for inaccurate publication of country disease status based on inaccurate information or changes in epidemiological status or other significant events that were not promptly reported to the Central Bureau,
http://www.oie.int/eng/Session2007/RF2006.pdf
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
USDA/APHIS NOTICE: Final Rule Regarding Imports and BSE Effective March 4, 2014
http://madcowusda.blogspot.com/2014/02/usdaaphis-notice-final-rule-regarding.html
>>>I remember what happened with mad cow disease BSE testing, and the incident where they were using HEALTHY CATTLE BRAINS for testing, yes, brains they new were negative for BSE, and this was when there was suppose to be officials on site. go figure... <<<
SNIP...for those interested, please see full text ;
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
COOL UPDATE September 2, 2014
http://naiscoolyes.blogspot.com/2014/09/cool-update-september-2-2014.html
Recent media reports speculating about the World Trade Organization (WTO) compliance panel process regarding Canada and Mexico's challenge to U.S. mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) have resulted in more than a few media calls to the Canadian Cattlemen's Association (CCA).
The CCA does not comment on speculation, noting that the official compliance panel decision remains confidential until the WTO publishes it, but offers the following general comment about Canada's COOL challenge at the WTO:
The CCA believes in the strength of Canada's arguments that were put forth to the panel and we continue to hold the view that COOL discriminates against live imports of cattle and hogs into the U.S. marketplace. The CCA believes that the only way to bring COOL into compliance is through legislative change, either by repeal or amendment of the COOL statute. Such action must result in elimination of the segregation of imported livestock in the U.S.
Until the U.S. comes into compliance with its WTO obligations, the CCA will continue to advocate that the Government of Canada prepare to impose prohibitively high tariffs on key U.S. exports to Canada, including beef.
The CCA has been working hard with its U.S. allies to get COOL fixed. In late July, CCA leadership discussed COOL at length at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) summer conference in Denver.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Gerry Ritz also attended the conference. In reference to the ongoing WTO dispute, Ritz told delegates that if successful in its challenge, Canada will seek to retaliate as quickly as possible and will target everything from California wine to Minnesota mattresses. He continued the straight talk on COOL during a special guest appearance at the CCA Semi-Annual in Charlottetown, PEI.
The potential for retaliatory tariffs continues to command the attention of the U.S. Congress. In the August 5 edition of Action News, we told you about the letter 110 Members of Congress sent to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and U.S. Trade Representative requesting that, should the WTO rule against the U.S., the Secretary of Agriculture 'rescind the final rule while Congress works to permanently resolve the issue.'
The negative impact of Canadian and Mexican retaliation to the state of Iowa – a leading supporter of COOL – was discussed in an op-ed published in the Des Moines Register. The Corn Refiners Association in Washington, D.C. said $300 million worth of annual exports could be impacted, including commodities such as pork, corn, some prepared foods while the corn wet milling industry could lose $500 million in annual sales to Mexico if corn sweeteners are targeted.
They suggest a solution put forth by a broad coalition of U.S. industries that have no stake in the beef industry: should the WTO find that COOL is in violation of the U.S.'s international trade obligations, the Secretary of Agriculture should immediately suspend COOL until Congress can take legislative action to resolve the dispute.
http://www.cattle.ca/assets/ActionNews/action-news-090214.pdf
The most recent assessments (and reassessments) were published in June 2005 (Table I; 18), and included the categorisation of Canada, the USA, and Mexico as GBR III. Although only Canada and the USA have reported cases, the historically open system of trade in North America suggests that it is likely that BSE is present also in Mexico.
http://www.oie.int/boutique/extrait/06heim937950.pdf
IN SHORT, AND IN A NUT SHELL ;
(Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 23 May 2006)
11. Information published by the OIE is derived from appropriate declarations made by the official Veterinary Services of Member Countries. The OIE is not responsible for inaccurate publication of country disease status based on inaccurate information or changes in epidemiological status or other significant events that were not promptly reported to the Central Bureau,
http://www.oie.int/eng/Session2007/RF2006.pdf
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
USDA/APHIS NOTICE: Final Rule Regarding Imports and BSE Effective March 4, 2014
http://madcowusda.blogspot.com/2014/02/usdaaphis-notice-final-rule-regarding.html
>>>I remember what happened with mad cow disease BSE testing, and the incident where they were using HEALTHY CATTLE BRAINS for testing, yes, brains they new were negative for BSE, and this was when there was suppose to be officials on site. go figure... <<<
SNIP...for those interested, please see full text ;
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
COOL UPDATE September 2, 2014
http://naiscoolyes.blogspot.com/2014/09/cool-update-september-2-2014.html