OIE Vote of Confidence in U.S. Beef

Last week the Scientific Commission for the World Organization for Animal Health or OIE voted to upgrade the United States risk classification for bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE to negligible risk status.

This was very good news for the U.S. beef industry and will hopefully be an important step forward in increasing export opportunities for U.S. ranchers.

As field reporter Greg Martin shares many facets of the beef industry are applauding this decision.

Martin: “The US Meat Export Federation President and CEO Philip Seng welcomed the OIE announcement by saying, ‘This decision by the OIE should clear away any remaining concerns that some countries have about the risk associated with importing beef and beef products from the United States. We think the decision announced by the OIE should provide a number of beef importing countries with a reason to reevaluate their requirements for beef imports from the United States.’

The President-Elect of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association made the following statement, ‘This announcement is very positive news for U.S. cattle producers. The U.S. being classified as negligible risk for BSE by the OIE further solidifies the fact that the safety and health of our cattle and our beef is a top priority for American cattlemen and women. With the implementation of multiple interlocking safeguards by the U.S. beef industry and our partners, we have successfully been able to prevent BSE from becoming a threat to the U.S. beef supply, which remains the safest in the world.”

Thanks, Greg.