BSE - 10 Years Later

BSE - 10 Years Later

Earlier this week marked the 10th anniversary of BSE discovered the U.S., an event that closed nearly all international markets for U.S. beef. The U.S. Meat Export Federation estimates the cumulative, 10-year loss in U.S. beef trade due to BSE to be at least $16 billion. USMEF CEO Philip Seng says there are still beef export markets that remain closed or restricted.

Seng: "China is still the most notable market that we are still not involved in, in anyway. We know that our government is making a full out effort. They were in Beijing here just recently so hopefully they can come to some kind of an understanding so we can get into now the world's fastest growing market. Saudi Arabia is a market with our last instance of BSE in this country they banned our products. As the relationships have been changing in the Middle East, it has been very difficult to even meet with them on these issues. I think of a couple of areas that are very important to us. The Australians still after 10 years, haven't opened up their markets."

Even Mexico -- a very valuable and reliable market for U.S. beef -- still does not allow access for all cuts from all ages of cattle as Seng explains

Seng: "I'm eternally grateful to Mexico because they were one of the first markets to open up. But we still have items probably worth $153 million we still could do into Mexico. The Mexican market has been an extremely positive market for us. But again as a results of our status now being negligible risk we shouldn't have any restrictions on our product."

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