Contact:            Michele Peterson, 303-850-3343

Beef Producers Proclaim Need for Shared Goal:

Global Beef Trade Based on Sound Science

Statement by Mike John,

Missouri cattleman and NCBA president-elect

June 9, 2005

“Today at USDA’s Roundtable on BSE, individuals representing every sector of the beef industry came together to talk about BSE, the science and safeguards in place along with the economics of it all. It was a unique opportunity to share points of view and express openness about differing perspectives.

“I can say with confidence that beef is safe because of the progressive efforts taken almost 20 years ago. Cattlemen called for the feed ban in 1996, and a year later the FDA banned feeding ruminant-derived protein to cattle. USDA also mandates the removal of specified risk materials from cattle, which is considered the single most important public health firewall against BSE.

“In addition, The United States has a BSE surveillance program that has met or exceeded OIE standards for 15 years. More than 360,000 cattle were tested since June 1, 2004, with no cases of BSE. Cattlemen have played a role in making this possible.

“Bottom line, the multiple firewall approach ensures this diminishing disease has no effect on public or animal health. That’s why we believe it’s time we bring America’s beef back to the world’s plate.”

“NCBA is the only cattlemen’s group that has worked on this issue since the mid-1980s. We believe our shared goal should be to serve as a model for global beef trade based on sound science. The United States is the global brand name for high quality beef. We are a nation that raises beef better than anywhere else in the world.

“The truth is we know a lot about this disease. The import ban was created back in 1989 when we were first learning about BSE. At that time, we didn’t know how the disease was spread. The prudent way to manage it at the time was to institute the import ban. We know a lot more today. For instance, we know feed is the vector. And, based directly from the United Kingdom’s experience, we know the feed ban breaks the cycle of BSE. The Food and Drug Administration currently reports U.S. feed ban compliance exceeds 99 percent.

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