News Update

News Update
Sept. 10, 2007

Johanns Statement on Strategic Framework for Import Safety

Secretary Johanns today commended Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt for his leadership in producing the Strategic Framework for import safety, which was presented to President Bush today.

As chair of the Interagency Working Group on Import Safety, Leavitt traveled the country to collect input from those involved with importing goods, while also coordinating the collective ideas of the 12 federal departments that make up the working group.

Johanns stated that the Strategic Framework would serve as the foundation for an action plan with specific short- and long-term recommendations being developed by the group, which they hope to present to the president in November.

“I look forward to being joined by Secretary Leavitt this Wednesday as we tour a small meat processing plant in Kansas City, Mo., and meet with Midwest producers to hear their recommendations about strengthening import safety,” Johanns said.

Johanns will host a public meeting at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Jefferson Auditorium in Washington, D.C., Oct. 1 to provide consumers and advocates an opportunity to comment on import safety. Details about the meeting and comment period, the Strategic Framework and other import safety information are available at http://www.importsafety.gov.

— News release provided by USDA.

USDA Updates Requirements for Certifying Beef Exports to South Korea

The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has posted new requirements to participate in its Export Verification (EV) program for exports to South Korea.

In a directive dated Aug. 24, the agency instructed establishments to review and tighten appropriately their weight range tolerance for boxes of boneless beef product presented for export to Korea. The statement can be seen in its entirety at www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/arc/LSKoreaClarificationStatement.pdf.

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) posted rules for inspection personnel pertaining to the new AMS requirements in an Aug. 28 document, which can be viewed at www.fsis.usda.gov.

U. S. exports to South Korea have been hampered by several stops and starts due to banned materials showing up in some shipments.

USDA Extends Comment Period for Proposed Livestock Mandatory Reporting

The USDA’s AMS announced today that it is extending the comment period on the proposed rule for the Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) program. The Sept. 7 deadline has been extended to Sept. 24.

The proposed rule will be published soon in the Federal Register. Details of the comment period extension will also be published.

Comments may be submitted on the internet at www.regulations.gov. Written comments can be sent to Livestock and Grain Market News Branch, Docket No. LS-07-01, 1400 Independence Ave. S.W., Room 2619-S, Washington, DC 20250-0252. Comments can also be made by fax to 202-690-3732.

Copies of the proposed rule and additional information can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/lsmarketnews.

— News release provided by the Agricultural Marketing Service

Final restrictions lifted

The last restrictions imposed on livestock movement in the United Kingdom (UK) following the foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease outbreak have been lifted, according to the British Broadcasting Corp (BBC). A surveillance zone around two infected Surrey farms was removed Saturday, a day after an official report found that a leaking drain on the nearby Pirbright lab site was the likely source of contamination.

The government’s chief veterinarian, Debby Reynolds, said she was satisfied the country was free of FMD, according to the article.

Friday’s report found repairs had not been carried out at the Pirbright site because staff at the government laboratory and the neighboring one, owned by the Merial drug company, could not agree on who should pay for the maintenance.

Reynolds said that more than 8,000 samples from animals had been tested, and all the animals tested healthy. However, she said the earliest the UK could achieve international FMD-free status will be Nov. 7.

— compiled by Linda Robbins, Angus Productions Inc.