2004 CCC Archive
Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns: April 29, 2004
Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns
April 29, 2004
The CCC is a weekly report from Washington D.C. giving an up-to-date summary of top policy initiatives concerning the cattle industry; direct from National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).
Incidences of E. coli on Decline: E. coli O157:H7 incidence declined 36 percent last year compared to the previous year, and the overall incidence of E. coli O157:H7 infections has declined 42 percent since 1996, according to data released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Working in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the CDC report shows a sharp decline in other foodborne illnesses as well. NCBA’s producer-members have played a leading role in many of these food safety efforts.
"Industry groups, livestock producers, USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service, the FDA and the academic community have worked collaboratively on these efforts for years with a strong focus on using science based systems to enhance food safety," says NCBA Director of Food Policy Leah Wilkinson. As part of the Beef Industry Food Safety Council (BIFSCo), NCBA fostered the development of written practices to help the cattle industry reach its goal of reducing and eventually eliminating E. coli O157:H7 from beef. Additionally, NCBA’s checkoff-funded E. coli Summit held last year brought more than 200 beef industry leaders together from all sectors of the industry collectively who pledged to reduce and eventually eliminate E. coli from U.S. beef. NCBA's producer-members believe strongly in the power of the collaborative process. Working with our partners across all sectors of the beef industry, and using the best available science and technology, we’re able to make our product even safer for consumers around the world.
CDC's full report, "Preliminary FoodNet Data on the Incidence of Infection with Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food -- Selected Sites, United States, 2003" is available online at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/.
Japanese Trade: NCBA cattle producers are optimistic with the progress made during most recent talks between U.S. and Japanese governments over their ban on U.S. beef imports since December 23. The concept of 100 percent testing will be addressed throughout this process and is no longer a precondition for resuming trade. A distinct process to identify the scientific parameters whereby the Japanese border can be reopened to U.S. beef have now been established.
NCBA members have long believed that by working together, our countries could create the science-based framework by which high quality, safe, wholesome U.S. beef could be exported to that country. Meetings in Tokyo brought a breakthrough in discussions. In the border reopening process, the U.S. and Japan working group will address: (1) Definition of BSE and the method of testing; (2) Definition of Specified Risk Materials (SRMs) and the method of removal; (3) Appropriate surveillance; (4) Appropriate feed ban implementation; (5) Risk categorization/status of countries; (6) Cattle month-age identification and more.
Mexico Opens More Doors: Cattle producers are pleased that Mexico shall resume purchases of tripe from the U.S., easing import restrictions imposed after December 23. Mexico, the second-biggest importer of U.S. beef products, last year purchased $196 million of U.S. tripe. Their total purchases of beef products reached $854.6 million. According to the USDA, Mexico has reopened trade for more than 90 percent of U.S. beef, beef variety meats, veal and cattle products.
Canadian Trade: Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin is currently in Washington D.C. and has plans to meet with President Bush tomorrow at the White House to discuss key trade issues. According to today’s address by the Prime Minister, the leaders will discuss the BSE and border issues. NCBA will report on the outcome of these meetings in next week’s edition of the CCC.
In related news, NCBA members learned this week of an injunction filed against USDA, claiming the agency did not follow proper administrative procedures prior to allowing importation of Canadian bone-in beef products. USDA is currently working thorough the permits that have been issued to determine what will now be effected by the temporary restraining order on certain products and continues to evaluate the comments received on the proposed rule.
Regardless of the outcome of this injunction, NCBA is assuring all consumers and producers that this is an administrative policy matter, having no bearing on the safety of beef. NCBA’s producer-members believe it is entirely inappropriate and inaccurate to question the safety of beef. Such action unnecessarily threatens consumer confidence in our valuable product. Aggressive food safety firewalls assure that all beef is safe from BSE. Multiple scientific studies show BSE is not found in the meat we commonly eat like steaks and roasts. The BSE agent is found in central nervous system tissue such as brain and spinal cord. These tissues are banned from the food supply. These multiple firewalls, erected over the past 15 years, protect our food supply from BSE, and include a feed ban, surveillance system and removal of specified risk material from the food supply.
Animal Identification: NCBA’s Animal Identification Commission met for the first time in face-to-face meetings this week to discuss NCBA activity regarding the issue. The Fort Worth, Texas meeting allowed the group to review the current United States Animal Identification Plan (USAIP) and USDA activity to date and make recommendations on the development of a national animal identification system. This week, USDA held a series of briefings with industry and Congress to outline basic goals of a planned system. NCBA responded with a letter to Secretary Veneman indicating our areas of agreement with the current USDA strategy and areas of possible concern. NCBA continues to support a national system that will both enhance and protect the U.S. cowherd. The framework of the final system shall allow for improvements in animal health systems and allow for producers to utilize the system for value added uses. NCBA has communicated and met with USDA officials this week and will continue to update affiliates and the industry on the progress and development of any plan. Contact Jay Truitt at NCBA for more information.
BSE Summit: Also in Fort Worth this week, NCBA producers hosted around 200 cattle industry leaders, representing each link in the beef production chain, for an intensive Beef Industry BSE Summit. Participants worked in five beef sector groups: Testing, Specified Risk Materials (SRM), By-products, Trade, and Consumer Relations and identified specific science-based practices, strategies, and action steps. Featured speakers included: Peter J. Fernandez, Ph.D., Associate Administrator, USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; George Gray, Ph.D., Director, Harvard Center for Risk Analysis; and Randy Blach, Executive Vice President of Cattle-Fax. The goal of the summit was to identify knowledge voids and establish best practices to strengthen our defenses against this disease, as the U.S. continues to produce the safest beef supply in the world.
Trade Hearing: The House Agriculture Committee hosted a hearing on trade negotiations this Wednesday. Only government witnesses testified. The Committee heard from Secretary Veneman and U.S. Trade Representative, Robert Zoellick. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Goodlatte noted "World trade in agriculture is highly competitive and barriers, such as high tariffs are rampant. Countries regularly deny access for U.S. agricultural products for many reasons… I have repeatedly said that gaining access for U.S. agricultural products is the most important objective of the ongoing WTO negotiations." Goodlatte encouraged the Administration to work towards initiating trade agreements with countries with larger populations that offer greater opportunities for U.S. agriculture exports. On May 19th, the Committee will hold another trade hearing, with farmers and ranchers representing various farm organizations. Witness testimony will focus on their reaction to agricultural negotiations.
EQIP Pilot Program: The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Public Lands Council, U.S. Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Gila County Cattlegrowers, and the Arizona Cattle Growers will announce imminently a pilot project for the use of Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funding to support sustainable grazing on public lands in the Tonto National Forest. The Southwest has been stricken by severe drought the last several years. The EQIP is a voluntary conservation program, reauthorized in the 2002 Farm Bill and administered by Natural Resources Conservation Services. The EQIP provides assistance to farmers and ranchers who face threats to soil, water, air, and related natural resources on agricultural land.
The pilot program is designed to help keep sustainable grazing in place on the Forest. Ranching families, communities, and forage resources on private and public lands have been hurt by the curtailment of grazing in the Southwest. Ranchers are grateful for the assistance of USDA which will help stabilize the situation.
NCBA President Jan Lyons in Washington: NCBA President and Kansas cattle producer Jan Lyons is in Washington D.C. this week. Lyons met with various Congressional offices on top issues currently affecting cattle producers across the country. She also attended an award reception for United States Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kansas), who was awarded the prestigious Eisenhower Leadership Award on Wednesday in Washington, DC.
Invasives Hearing: The National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands subcommittee of the House Resources Committee held a hearing today on S. 144, the Harmful Noxious Weed Act. The bill was first introduced by Senator Larry Craig in 2000 with the active participation of the NCBA and the Public Lands Council (PLC). The bill, which has passed the Senate twice, makes money available to local weed management entities to work cooperatively with all affected stakeholders - including cattlemen - on private and public lands to fight weed infestations. NCBA and the PLC are working with the House Resources Committee to step up movement on the bill, and to get this important measure passed into law this session.
Critical Habitat Hearing: This Wednesday, the House Resources Committee held a hearing on H.R. 2933, the Critical Habitat Reform Act of 2003. The bipartisan bill was introduced in the House by Congressman Dennis Cardoza of California. The Cattlemen and the Public Lands Council (PLC) submitted a statement in support of the bill, which works to streamline the designation of critical habitat by clarifying the definition of critical habitat and by changing the timing of critical habit