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Summary:
Most countries banned U.S. beef after the December 2003 U.S. report of a single case of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease) in a Canadian-born cow. Several of these markets have partially reopened. However, Japan and Korea, which together had purchased 57% (by value) of all U.S. beef exports in 2003, remain closed. Japan claims it is moving to ease its domestic rule that now requires BSE testing of all cattle, and to finalize another to actually admit some U.S. beef, in order to implement an October 2004 framework agreement with the United States to restart trade. However, U.S. officials and some Members of Congress say that rulemaking is proceeding too slowly, and several of them have warned of trade retaliation. In Canada, the first native BSE case was reported in May 2003. Two more Canadian cases were confirmed in early January 2005. The first three North American cases were in cattle born before both countries banned, in 1997, the practice of feeding most ruminant material back to ruminants, including cattle. The fourth (third Canadian) case was in a cow born in March 1998. In all four cases, BSEcontaminated feed is considered the most likely cause of infection. USDA said that total U.S. beef exports in 2004 reached only 17% of their 2003 level of about 2.5 billion pounds. However, strong domestic demand and tight cattle supplies have kept U.S. cattle prices relatively high. Lower-risk Canadian beef has been permitted into the United States since August 2003. As the two new BSE cases were emerging, USDA published a final rule, on January 4, 2005, to also allow younger live cattle and additional Canadian ruminant products to enter. However, a federal judge on March 2, 2005, issued a preliminary injunction blocking the rule; USDA is appealing the decision. In Congress, the Senate passed a joint resolution (S.J.Res. 4) on March 3 to overturn the Canada rule. However, a resolution must pass the House (where similar H.J.Res. 23 was introduced) and be signed by the President, which most observers believe is unlikely. Several other BSE-related measures have been introduced recently, such as a House resolution (H.Res. 137) urging economic sanctions against Japan if it does not begin to accept U.S. beef. Others include H.R. 187, H.R. 384, H.R. 1254, H.R. 1256, H.R. 2068, S. 73, S. 108, and S. 294. The agriculture committees have held hearings on BSE issues. USDA and other experts contend that the risk to human health from one or a few U.S. BSE cases is minimal. Nonetheless, USDA has intensified efforts to improve BSE safeg u a r d s , including banning downer (nonambulatory) cattle from human food; keeping from the food supply additional higher-risk animal parts; accelerating work on a national animal identification system for disease purposes; and increasing funds for BSE-related activities. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is still weighing possible rules to tighten its feed controls. Further action is pending. From June 2004 to May 22, 2005, nearly 363,000 mostly higher-risk U.S. cattle had been tested for BSE under a special, expanded surveillance program, all negative.
