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Producers call for labeling of meat in response to latest mad cow problems in Canada
By Drovers news source (Wednesday, March 07, 2007)
Members of the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) are outraged at the latest fiasco related to the potential spread of mad cow disease in Canada and are again demanding the immediate implementation of country-of-origin labeling of beef.
On Feb. 9, Canadian officials confirmed the ninth case of mad cow disease in Canada. Less than one month later, on March 1, officials quarantined two dairy farms and five cattle ranches in Saskatchewan, involving about 8,000 animals, for tainted feed. The feed contained ruminant meat and bone meal, which Canada banned from cattle feed in 1997 to protect against the spread of mad cow disease.
"What has happened in Canada shows the need to maintain protections for U.S. consumers and cattle markets and the need to label meat by country of origin," said Mabel Dobbs, a rancher from Weiser, Idaho, and spokesperson for WORC.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a proposed rule to allow Canadian cattle over 30 months of age to enter this country. Currently, live cattle under 30 months of age and boxed beef move freely from Canada into the U.S.
"Clearly, Canada still faces a challenge in handling feed contamination issues that may contribute to mad cow disease," Dobbs said. "USDA must act now to protect U.S. cattle producers and to give consumers information about the origin of the meat they buy."
"USDA should close the Canadian border to all Canadian meat and live cattle until at least two conditions are met.
"First, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency must have a policy in place that can assure us there can be no mix-up or cross contamination of any feed sources for cattle.
"Second, Congress and USDA must immediately implement country-of-origin labeling of all meat."
Dobbs said the continuing mad cow problems in Canada are hurting U.S. beef exports. "Foreign buyers are concerned about us taking in Canadian beef," she said.
"Now is not the time for the USDA to weaken protections for U.S. consumers and cattle producers," Dobbs said. "Now is the time for Congress and USDA to implement mandatory country-of-origin labeling of meat."
Source: Western Organization of Resource Councils
By Drovers news source (Wednesday, March 07, 2007)
Members of the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) are outraged at the latest fiasco related to the potential spread of mad cow disease in Canada and are again demanding the immediate implementation of country-of-origin labeling of beef.
On Feb. 9, Canadian officials confirmed the ninth case of mad cow disease in Canada. Less than one month later, on March 1, officials quarantined two dairy farms and five cattle ranches in Saskatchewan, involving about 8,000 animals, for tainted feed. The feed contained ruminant meat and bone meal, which Canada banned from cattle feed in 1997 to protect against the spread of mad cow disease.
"What has happened in Canada shows the need to maintain protections for U.S. consumers and cattle markets and the need to label meat by country of origin," said Mabel Dobbs, a rancher from Weiser, Idaho, and spokesperson for WORC.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a proposed rule to allow Canadian cattle over 30 months of age to enter this country. Currently, live cattle under 30 months of age and boxed beef move freely from Canada into the U.S.
"Clearly, Canada still faces a challenge in handling feed contamination issues that may contribute to mad cow disease," Dobbs said. "USDA must act now to protect U.S. cattle producers and to give consumers information about the origin of the meat they buy."
"USDA should close the Canadian border to all Canadian meat and live cattle until at least two conditions are met.
"First, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency must have a policy in place that can assure us there can be no mix-up or cross contamination of any feed sources for cattle.
"Second, Congress and USDA must immediately implement country-of-origin labeling of all meat."
Dobbs said the continuing mad cow problems in Canada are hurting U.S. beef exports. "Foreign buyers are concerned about us taking in Canadian beef," she said.
"Now is not the time for the USDA to weaken protections for U.S. consumers and cattle producers," Dobbs said. "Now is the time for Congress and USDA to implement mandatory country-of-origin labeling of meat."
Source: Western Organization of Resource Councils
