06/200/07 New BSE ruling

A new United States risk status for BSE was just announced by the World Organization for Animal Health. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be back in one minute to tell you about two U.S. cattle organization's reactions. The World Organization for Animal Health or the OIE has classified the U.S. as a "controlled risk" country for BSE. The National Cattlemen' Beef Association is pleased with the new classification since it now provides for trade in all beef and beef products regardless of age. NCBA Chief Veterinarian, Dr. Elizabeth Parker relates that the U.S. has taken steps to eradicate BSE for nearly two decades and has science-based firewalls to ensure the BSE agent does not enter the food or animal feed supply. Gregg Doud, NCBA Chief Economist feels this new classification should lift political barriers to U.S. beef products in certain international markets. R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard thinks the USDA could have lobbied for the United States to be classified as a "negligible risk" country, which is the most favorable designation of the OIE. To get this classification a country may not have had a BSE case born in the last eleven years and Bullard states the U.S. meets this requirement. This would have set us apart from Canada, which received the same classification as the U.S. while having more BSE problems and confirmed cases. Personally, I'm glad for the OIE ruling, but it would have been nice to get the higher rating. I'm Jeff Keane. Western Livestock Reporter 5/30/07