Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns: July 1, 2004

Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns
July 1, 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 the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).

First BSE Inconclusive Proves Negative: This Wednesday, June 30, the USDA announced results of a test for BSE on an animal whose initial rapid screening test results were inconclusive.  Using the gold standard of BSE testing, immunohistochemistry, the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) has confirmed that the animal did not have BSE.  USDA initially announced this inconclusive test result last Friday, June 25.

As part of USDA’s expanded BSE surveillance program, a rapid screening test is used as the first step in a two-part testing process. USDA expected some inconclusive results from this initial step. Because the rapid tests are sensitive, they are subject to occasional inconclusive results that later prove to be negative. The rapid test allows the government to conduct a strong and statistically valid targeted surveillance for BSE. Top scientists, government experts and food industry leaders agree that U.S. beef remains safe and that the risk of BSE to humans is near zero. NCBA supports the expanded effort as a way to determine the prevalence of BSE, if it exists in this country, and eliminate it.

Second Inconclusive Result Announced:  A second animal’s initial rapid tests revealed an inconclusive result according to a USDA announcement Tuesday evening, June 29.  The sample is on its way to the NVSL in Ames, Iowa, and the USDA expects further test results in 4-7 days.  NCBA wants members of the press to understand that in the event that the NVSL immunohistochemistry tests reveal a positive result, NCBA will host a media call immediately following any USDA announcement.  NCBA is making every effort to be accessible to the media during this time to help educate consumers on the science related to this animal health issue.  As America’s beef producers, providing safe and wholesome beef remains our number one priority.

USDA Announcement Policy: As part of their commitment to open communications with the press and the American public, the USDA has hosted media calls and shared with the media and public announcements about inconclusive test results as soon as they were known.  USDA will not share any details about the animals such as location, age, breed, etc., unless a positive case occurs, but the agency has emphasized that the animals would not enter the human food chain or feed production. 

Consumers Be Assured, Beef is Safe:  It is important for all consumers to know that BSE is not a public health issue and that beef is safe to eat.  Safety precautions such as removal of all Specified Risk Materials (SRMs) ensure that the BSE agent does not enter the food supply.  The BSE agent is not found in the beef we commonly eat such as steaks, roasts, and ground beef. NCBA works continuously with members of the press and fellow industry groups to assure that the American public understands this important message.

Surveillance Program Completes First Month: The USDA’s enhanced BSE surveillance program began on June 1. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service posts the test results on their website at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov.  In the first month of testing, 8,585 tests have been conducted.  Two inclusive results (one on June 25 and one on June 29) have resulted from the initial rapid test.  The first inconclusive result was proven negative on June 30 by follow-up testing.

Listening Sessions on Animal ID:  The third of USDA’s listening sessions on Animal ID is being held today in Prineville, Oregon.  USDA is hosting the public forums to discuss the development, structure and implementation of a national animal ID program for all livestock and poultry animals. Future sessions scheduled include: 
-Stockton, Calif. - July 10
-Socorro, N.M. - July 16
-Pasco, Wash. - July 23
-Greeley, Colo. - Aug. 10
-Billings, Mont. - Aug. 13
-Kissimmee, Fla. - Aug. 16
-Columbus, Ohio - Aug. 18
-Ames, Iowa - Aug. 26
-Joplin, Mo. - Aug. 27
-Appleton, Wis. - Aug. 30
-St. Cloud, Minn. - Aug. 31 

Producers are encouraged to attend.  Details about each session, including the site and time of meeting, will be posted at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/nais/nais_listeningsessions.html.  NCBA remains committed to a private sector system and feels this is the best way to protect producer confidentiality. Australian and Canadian cattle industry representatives said in discussions this week that their animal ID systems are coordinated within the private sector and they view this as a key ingredient for a successful, producer-supported system.

Japan Negotiations:  The U.S. and Japanese technical working groups reportedly had encouraging discussions this week on beef trade issues. The group held three days of discussions and tours in Fort Collins, Colorado. NCBA has learned that the Japanese working group members were very impressed with personal tours of U.S. beef plant facilities. According to USDA’s Dr. Peter Fernandez, "Our tours of a slaughter facility, feed lot and feed mill were important opportunities for the Japanese members of the working group to witness the implementation of U.S. BSE safeguards, our rigorous enforcement of these safeguards and the compliance by industry." NCBA is working for the reopening the remainder of our export markets. We expect that every effort is being made by government officials to reopen them as soon as possible based upon the principles of sound science.

WTO Ag Talks Continue: WTO agriculture negotiators continue to hold talks in Geneva as the end of July deadline approaches. The deadline calls for the negotiators to have completed a written framework for the agriculture sector of the Doha Round of world-wide trade talks.  Allen Johnson, chief U.S. agriculture negotiator, said the priority in these negotiations is setting an end date for the use of agricultural export subsidies, increasing market access through reductions in tariffs and other restrictions, and reducing trade-distorting domestic subsidies. NCBA strongly supports trade initiatives that reduce barriers to access for U.S. beef. Increased market access via tariff reduction is the core mechanism by which U.S. beef producers can better their position in the global marketplace.

Country-of-Origin Labeling:  NCBA, along with other agriculture food groups are meeting with members of Congress to urge their support for legislation that will create a voluntary country-of-origin program.  The "Food Promotion Act of 2004" was introduced June 15 by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Ranking Minority Member Charles Stenholm (D-TX).  325 food groups have already signed on in support, and, to date, 26 Members of Congress have agreed to co-sponsor the bill.  Cattlemen should call their members of congress and urge their support of H.R. 4576.
 
Food Safety Mobile Plans for Fun 4th: USDA’s Food Safety Mobile will be on the National Mall July 3-4 for events surrounding the July 4th holiday. Since 2003, the Food Safety Mobile has been traveling around the nation, visiting fairs, schools and other venues, bringing the message of food safety directly to consumers. Since its launch in March 2003, the Mobile has traveled approximately 33,000 miles, appeared in over 130 events, and educated an estimated 1.3 million people in approximately 100 cities across the country. You can follow the travels of the Mobile, request a visit from the Mobile, and find useful food safety information at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/foodsafetymobile.

Media Contact:
Tanya Augustson or Karen Batra at 202-347-0228 taugustson@beef.org or kbatra@beef.org

This publication is funded by cattle producers and other industry supporters through their voluntary membership contributions to NCBA. To join the tens of thousands of cattle producers from across the U.S. in working to preserve our legacy, contact NCBA Member Services at 1-866-BEEF-USA or Membership@beef.org.
For more information, please visit our web site at hill.beef.org or www.beefusa.org

Please feel free to reprint in full.