HAY MAKER
Well-known member
National Farmers Union Calls on Congress to Rescind Canadian Border Rule
Washington--The National Farmers Union board of directors, meeting in Washington, D.C. this week, sent a letter to members of Congress on Sept 20 urging lawmakers to rescind the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) final rule to expand cattle and beef trade.
The rule was published in the Federal Register Sept. 18, giving Congress 60 days to review.
The rule would expand beef and cattle trade with Canada, by allowing the importation of additional live animals and beef products from any aged animal.
This rule comes despite the fact that Canada has nine confirmed cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and four of the nine cases were in an animal born after March 1, 1999.
The proposed rule would allow live animals born after this date into the United States.
"Until Canada can demonstrate its BSE problem is under control, NFU contends it is premature to expand beef and cattle trade," the NFU board said.
The board urged that the following measures be addressed prior to expanding Canadian beef and cattle trade.
• Canada can prove and verify their cattle herd and beef products are BSE-free.
• Canada can prove and verify 100 percent compliance with the ruminant feed ban U.S. international beef export markets are firmly reestablished.
• Mandatory country-of-origin labeling is fully implemented.
• Rapid-test technology is provided to all domestic slaughtering facilities to provide stability to the cattle market, and another layer of confidence for the American consuming public.
• A guaranteed economic safety net for American producers if the importation of cattle and beef products from BSE-positive countries negatively impacts domestic profitability.
The letter said, "National Farmers Union believes American producers and consumers deserve better."
for more information, call Liz Friedlander at 202-314-3191.
Washington--The National Farmers Union board of directors, meeting in Washington, D.C. this week, sent a letter to members of Congress on Sept 20 urging lawmakers to rescind the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) final rule to expand cattle and beef trade.
The rule was published in the Federal Register Sept. 18, giving Congress 60 days to review.
The rule would expand beef and cattle trade with Canada, by allowing the importation of additional live animals and beef products from any aged animal.
This rule comes despite the fact that Canada has nine confirmed cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and four of the nine cases were in an animal born after March 1, 1999.
The proposed rule would allow live animals born after this date into the United States.
"Until Canada can demonstrate its BSE problem is under control, NFU contends it is premature to expand beef and cattle trade," the NFU board said.
The board urged that the following measures be addressed prior to expanding Canadian beef and cattle trade.
• Canada can prove and verify their cattle herd and beef products are BSE-free.
• Canada can prove and verify 100 percent compliance with the ruminant feed ban U.S. international beef export markets are firmly reestablished.
• Mandatory country-of-origin labeling is fully implemented.
• Rapid-test technology is provided to all domestic slaughtering facilities to provide stability to the cattle market, and another layer of confidence for the American consuming public.
• A guaranteed economic safety net for American producers if the importation of cattle and beef products from BSE-positive countries negatively impacts domestic profitability.
The letter said, "National Farmers Union believes American producers and consumers deserve better."
for more information, call Liz Friedlander at 202-314-3191.
