USCA Press Release

UNITED STATES CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION

P.O. Box 339 - San Lucas, CA 93954

Email: usca@uscattlemen.org

Web Site: www.uscattlemen.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 3, 2007

U.S. Cattlemen on Senate Resolution of Disapproval

USCA (Oct. 3, 2007) - Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) today introduced in the United States Senate a Resolution of Disapproval that, if passed, expresses the U.S. Senate’s dissatisfaction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) intention to resume trade in older cattle and beef derived from older cattle with Canada. Senator Dorgan is joined by Senators Michael Enzi (R-WY), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Kent Conrad (D-ND), John Thune (R-SD), Jon Tester, (D-MT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and John Barrasso (R-WY).

The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) lauded Senator Dorgan’s action, saying public debate over the resolution will highlight problematic provisions in USDA’s Final Rule on the matter and could lead to appropriate and meaningful modifications.

USDA published what is commonly referred to as its "OTM Rule" in the September 18 Federal Register. The agency intends to resume trade in over thirty month of age cattle and beef derived from over thirty month cattle when the 60-day waiting period concludes on November 19.

A Resolution of Disapproval does not impact agency policy unless both the U.S. House and Senate pass it and the President supports it with his signature. Senator Dorgan’s Resolution of Disapproval will, however, put USDA on notice that the Senate strongly disapproves of the Final Rule as written.

"The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) applauds Senator Dorgan and Senator Enzi for leading the charge on this resolution," said Chuck Kiker, Beaumont, Texas, USCA Director and Animal Health Committee Chairman. "This will heighten public debate and will certainly enhance public awareness of USDA’s problematic Final Rule."

"The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association has urged USDA to reconsider its decision to establish March 1, 1999 as Canada’s effective feed ban enforcement date," continued Kiker. "Five of Canada’s bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) cases were born after March 1999, with two born in 2001 and one born as late as 2002, a full three years after the supposed effective feed ban enforcement date. USCA believes the Final Rule should be modified so that only cattle and beef derived from cattle born after January 1, 2003 should be allowed entry into the U.S."

"Recent events surrounding the discovery of bone found in shipments of beef to Korea have clearly demonstrated the packing industry’s inability to comply with export requirements in terms of proper removal of specified materials," commented Leo McDonnell, Columbus, Mont., USCA Director Emeritus and Animal Health Committee member. "These compliance problems raise questions about the packing industry’s effectiveness in removing specified risk materials from animals potentially exposed to contaminated feed in Canada."

McDonnell pointed out that U.S. beef export markets still remain partially closed with key trading partners. Fears related to commingling of U.S. beef with Canadian beef have created concern among U.S. trading partners.

"These difficulties will be much harder to alleviate if we now open the border to Canadian animals that clearly have a potential for exposure to contaminated feed," continued McDonnell. "Modifying the Final Rule will provide more assurance that cattle potentially exposed to contaminated feed will not enter the U.S., putting the U.S. cattle industry in a defensible position with key trading partners."

"Our export customers are allowed to set their own safety standards for importing food products. As a country, and in the spirit of previous U.S. negotiations and trade positions that allow countries flexibility in setting their own import standards when food safety is a concern, one would hope the U.S. would seek higher standards with regard to the safety of beef and cattle imports and not seek the lowest or minimal standards," noted McDonnell.

"USDA’s actions are of concern because they tilt the ‘trading field’ away from U.S. ranchers," he continued. "USDA’s Final Rule fails the litmus test for internationally practiced standards for harmonization, and puts the burden of the Canadian BSE problem squarely on the shoulders of U.S. ranchers. Under this rule, Canada would be able to resume full export volumes, while the U.S. has resumed less than half of our pre-BSE exports," he stated.

Pat Becker, President of the Independent Beef Association of North Dakota (I-BAND), a USCA state affiliate, concurred saying, "USDA’s Final Rule should not be implemented until the U.S. regains export markets lost in 2003 and country of origin labeling is implemented. I-BAND and USCA support what Senator Dorgan has initiated and we will do whatever we can to ensure the resolution’s passage. Certainly, the ensuing debate will underscore the flaws in USDA’s Final Rule, which hopefully will lead to prudent modifications."

Established in March 2007, USCA is committed to assembling a team to concentrate efforts in Washington, DC to enhance and expand the cattle industry’s voice on Capitol Hill. For more information visit www.uscattlemen.org