How To Send Your Beef to Japan When the Door Opens

There are a lot of questions surrounding beef exports to Japan, besides the obvious one of when they begin.  At least one thing is certain.  When exports are allowed to resume, they won’t be done the way they used to be.

U.S. beef will be sent under something called the Beef Export Verification Program, and those supplying it will be certified under a separate program known as Quality System Assessment (QSA).

Barry Carpenter, deputy administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service, answered some questions about the program.

1.  As a cow/calf producer, what do I need to do to become QSA certified so my beef can be exported? 

The cow/calf producer has many options to have his animals qualify for the Export Verification Program:

•  Apply for approval of their own USDA QSA Program for age verification; or

•  Have their cattle enrolled in one of the approved USDA QSA Programs for age verification as listed on the Livestock and Seed Program Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/arc/qsap.htm; or

•  Have their cattle enrolled in one of the approved USDA Process Verified Programs for age verification as listed on the Livestock and Seed Program Web site at:  http://processverified.usda.gov/

2. Is my QSA program ultimately tied to a packer?

If you have your own stand-alone USDA QSA Program or your cattle are enrolled in an approved USDA QSA or Process Verified Program for age verification, you are not tied to a packer. Producers, backgrounders, livestock markets, feedlots and packers can all apply for approval for their own stand-alone USDA QSA Program.  There is no requirement that producers participate under an “umbrella” program.

3. Who will certify me?

If you have your own stand-alone USDA QSA Program, then USDA, Livestock and Seed Program will approve your program, which will include on-site audits in accordance with the USDA QSA Program requirements.

 If you are part of an “umbrella” USDA QSA or PVP Program, the company will conduct supplier evaluations and re-evaluations in accordance with its approved Program.  USDA may conduct audits of suppliers of cattle while auditing the company’s approved Program to ensure Program requirements are met. 

4.  Who pays the certification costs?

Whoever requests the audit will be responsible to cover the cost of the audit.

5.  What kind of records do I need?

Documentation must be sufficient to verify the birthdates of conforming animals. Documentation may include existing procedures, forms, and records such as standard operating procedures, health records, feed records, shipping records, purchase records, documentation for identification of animals, and/or breeding methods and seasons.

6.  What kind of ID do I need?

The type of ID is dependent upon the Program in which you participate.  If you are in an “umbrella” Program, then you must use the type of ID required by the company.  If you have your own Program, then you determine the type of ID.  Identification must be such that animals can be traced back to legitimate birth records.  Identification must meet the requirements of the specified product requirements for the specific export program.

7.  Can the QSA specify the kind of ID I need?

Yes.  Under an “umbrella” QSA Program, the company may specify the type of ID that producers must use. 

8.  Will I be audited?

Yes, if you have your own Program, you will be audited in accordance with the USDA QSA Program requirements. 

If you are part of an “umbrella” Program, USDA may conduct audits of suppliers of cattle while auditing the company’s Program to ensure that requirements are met.

9.  If so, what will I need to have?

If you are audited you will be required to have documentation that is sufficient to verify the birth dates of conforming animals.  Documentation may include existing procedures, forms, and records such as standard operating procedures, health records, feed records, shipping records, purchase records, documentation for identification of animals, and/or breeding methods and seasons.

10.   If a cow/calf producer has records that confirm the age of his cattle, can he use a signed affidavit when he sells them and will that be acceptable in the export market?

No.  Producers must either develop their own USDA QSA Program or may supply cattle under an “umbrella” Program.  Signed affidavits may be used within an approved USDA PVP or QSA Program as a record to show transfer of ownership.