NCBA encouraged by Sec. Vilsack’s trade mission to Japan
By Agri-Pulse Staff
© Copyright Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.
Washington, April 1 –The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has welcomed Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s trade mission to Japan next week.
“We appreciate Secretary Vilsack’s efforts to strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and Japan when it comes to trade in agricultural products between our two countries,” NCBA president Steve Foglesong said Thursday. “Japan is one of our top trading partners and it’s critical that the U.S. continues to engage with Japan and all of our international trading partners about the necessity of abiding by science-based international guidelines in beef trade.”
Following a detection of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the U.S. in 2003, Japan closed its borders to U.S. beef. Today, Japan only allows beef products from cattle under 21 months of age, costing U.S. producers an estimated $1 billion in lost export revenue each year.
Since 1990, USDA’s BSE surveillance program has shown that BSE in the U.S. cattle herd is virtually non-existent. Internationally, it is likely that BSE will be fully eradicated from the planet within the next 10 to 15 years. The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), has classified the Unites States as a controlled risk country for BSE – the same designation as Japan. This classification means that all beef products, regardless of age, can be safely traded as long as specified risk materials are removed.
“We are encouraged to see that the Obama administration has announced that it intends to engage Japan in discussions about science-based import standards. Japan’s failure to apply the OIE guidelines continues to result in significant losses for the U.S. beef industry – limiting us to about 25% of our potential market there,” Foglesong said.
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