5/31/2006

R-CLAF: Producers Pleased with OIE Change to BSE Regulations
Canada Still Poses Significant Disease Risk

(Billings, Mont.) – R-CALF USA was pleased to learn that member countries of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) last week voted unanimously to revise the three definitions of risk categories for countries affected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE): negligible, controlled, and undetermined.

Previously, a country that discovered a case of BSE had to wait seven years from the date of its latest discovery before being eligible to be classified as a “negligible risk” country, the category for countries with the least amount of risk from the disease.

Under these guidelines, the U.S. would have had to wait until the year 2013 to be classified as a negligible risk country after the March 2006 discovery of a BSE-infected cow in Alabama.

Now, as a result of OIE’s decision, countries work from the date of birth of the animal discovered to be infected with the BSE agent – a significant change that more accurately reflects the scientific knowledge surrounding the disease.

“Scientists have determined that BSE is caused by feeding contaminated animal-based feed to cattle, and that cattle are most likely to become infected with BSE during the first year of their lives, so using the infected animal’s birth date as a reference point allows countries to determine how recently contaminated feed may have been circulating within their feed system,” explained R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard. “OIE’s decision also allows countries to determine how effective their feed bans have been in arresting the spread of BSE within their borders.

“OIE is now saying countries with adequate testing programs that detect no cases in cattle born within the past 11 years should be considered as a negligible risk for BSE because there is no evidence the disease has been recycling in the feed supplies of those countries,” Bullard continued..

“By applying this new reference point to the United States, which has tested over 720,000 cattle since June 2004 and detected two BSE-infected animals born more than 10 years ago, the scientific evidence suggests that while the disease may have been prevalent before the U.S. implemented its 1997 feed ban, the fact that no cases have been detected in cattle born after the feed ban suggests that the U.S. has effectively halted the continued recycling of the BSE agent,” Bullard said. “The risk in Canada, however, is inherently greater given this new standard.

“Of the six BSE cases detected in Canada after testing less than 110,000 cattle since 2004, half of Canada’s BSE cases were born after the 1997 implementation of its feed ban, which suggests a continuing BSE problem in that country,” Bullard explained. “Canada will have to wait until the year 2011 before OIE would even consider placing that country in the negligible-risk category.

“This suggests that the United States needs to rethink its trading position with Canada if the U.S. intends to restore confidence in the minds of international export customers,” Bullard continued. “It is irrational for the U.S. to continue commingling Canadian beef and Canadian cattle with U.S. beef and U.S. cattle when the rest of the world knows that Canada has an inherently higher risk for BSE. The U.S. is presently accepting Canadian beef products and cattle into the United States that U.S. export customers will not accept.

“For example, the countries of Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Taiwan, Egypt, and Hong Kong will not accept any ground beef from BSE-affected countries,” Bullard said. “Yet, not only is the U.S. allowing Canadian ground beef into the United States, but the U.S. also is allowing in imports of Canadian cattle that are eventually made into ground beef. It is clear, that for more than two years, this practice has complicated the reopening of U.S. export markets and is hurting the financial viability of the U.S. cattle industry.”

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R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America) represents thousands of U.S. cattle producers on domestic and international trade and marketing issues. R-CALF USA, a national, non-profit organization, is dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. R-CALF USA’s membership consists primarily of cow/calf operators, cattle backgrounders, and feedlot owners. Its members – over 18,000 strong – are located in 47 states, and the organization has over 60 local and state association affiliates, from both cattle and farm organizations. Various main street businesses are associate members of R-CALF USA. For more information, visit www.r-calfusa.com  or, call 406-252-2516.