Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 6/10/11

Beef industry leaders want USDA to finalize a comprehensive rule regarding bovine spongiform encephalopathy to facilitate expanded access to export markets.

A letter that the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the U.S. Meat Export Federation, the American Meat Institute and the National Meat Association jointly sent to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack comes as USDA is working on a rule meant to align U.S. standards with those of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the groups specifically push for expanded access for beef exports to the European Union.

Under a memorandum of understanding signed with the EU two years ago, the EU agreed to open a 20,000 metric ton duty-free quota for high-quality beef imports. Since then EU imports have surged more than 150 percent. But the letter notes that the EU understood that Washington wouldn’t support moving to a second phase, which would expand the duty-free quota to 45,000 metric tons, unless the Europeans approved the use of lactic acid as a carcass wash.

“It has come to our attention that certain EU member states are linking their support for the approval of lactic acid to the publication by USDA of its comprehensive BSE rule,” the groups wrote in the letter. “Currently, the United States applies BSE-related import restrictions to beef imports from the EU, notwithstanding the fact that most of the countries in the EU have been given the same BSE classification as the United States by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). As we understand it, implementation of the comprehensive rule would give USDA the legal authority to base its decisions on whether to open the U.S. market to beef imports from other countries on the international guidelines established by the OIE.”

Moreover, the industry leaders said, an effective BSE rule would affect trade in other parts of the world.
“We continue to face BSE-related barriers to U.S. beef exports in a number of countries around the world,” the letter said. “Implementation of the comprehensive rule would not only permit USDA to respond to those countries in the EU that are interested in exporting beef and veal to the United States, but in our view it should also put the U.S. government in a stronger position to press other countries to follow the OIE’s guidelines and adopt science-based BSE policies.”
 

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