News Update

News Update
June 28, 2006

Canada Tightens Feed Restrictions

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is banning specified risk materials (SRMs) capable of transmitting bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) from animal feeds, pet foods and fertilizers.

In a CFIA release issued June 27, the tighter feed controls are meant to help eradicate the disease from the national cattle herd by preventing more than 99% of potential BSE infectivity from reaching the country’s feed.

“This ban tightens already strong, internationally recognized feed controls and shortens the path we must follow to move beyond BSE,” said Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Following CFIA’s announcement, American Meat Institute (AMI) Foundation President James Hodges said, “While we would have preferred that Canada move toward a more limited SRM removal policy given the extremely low risk of BSE in North America, we are confident that the proposed feed regulation being considered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will yield equivalent protection.”

Canada’s government has earmarked $80 million to help implement new feed control plans, set to begin July 12, 2007, with additional time provided for small establishments to achieve full compliance.

Salmonella Levels Decrease Slightly

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has released its quarterly salmonella testing report, showing a slight decrease in all categories except for ground beef, AMI reports.

An increase of testing frequency in establishments with process-control problems may demonstrate an increase in positive results, FSIS suggests. Visit www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Q1_2006_Salmonella_Testing/index.asp to access the entire report.

Senators Push for Beef Trade in China

Twenty-seven senators have sent Chinese President Hu Jintao a letter urging him to resume beef trade with the United States. In the letter dated June 22, the group led by Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) describes its concern for China’s continued embargo on U.S. beef.

“The continued prohibition on U.S. beef and beef products is fundamentally inconsistent with the globally recognized food safety guidelines set by the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health),” the letter states. “To that end, we urge you to quickly take the steps necessary to reestablish beef trade with the U.S. … ”

Although China had agreed to conditionally resume U.S. beef imports by June 30, the country has not yet taken steps necessary to allow export resumption.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.