House bill introduced to keep U.S. cattle industry FMD-free

TSCRA Daily News Update, July 24, 2008

House bill introduced to keep U.S. cattle industry FMD-free

The U.S. Cattlemen's Association (USCA) applauded Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.) and Representative Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.) June 16 for introducing a bill to maintain high animal health safety standards by postponing the importation of fresh meat and live cattle from Argentina while that country continues to grapple with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

The House bill and its Senate counterpart, sponsored by Senator Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), gives direction to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to change their proposed rule to import fresh and prepackaged beef, lamb and other meat from select regions of Argentina.

These regions are free of FMD but many cattle and lamb producing regions of the country continue their fight to rein in the disease.

"America's ranchers are fortunate to have leaders in Washington like Representatives Herseth Sandlin and Cubin," said Jon Wooster, a California rancher and USCA president. "Regionalized beef trade with Argentina will set a precedent and lower our import standards making us vulnerable to the introduction of FMD."

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) deemed FMD the most economically-devastating of all livestock diseases, and a recent study by Kansas State University found that an outbreak would cost the state of Kansas alone nearly $1 billion.

A mock trial conducted in Texas revealed just how devastating FMD would be if it were introduced in the U.S. and how quickly the disease would spread. In less than forty-eight hours after the mock introduction of FMD in a Beeville sale barn, animal health officials learned livestock throughout the entire heartland of America would be exposed to the airborne disease.

"FMD is an airborne disease and will not stop at an imaginary USDA border," noted Wooster. "Argentina would be responsible for maintaining the continuity of the borders of the FMD-free region. Argentina's ability to maintain that border and not allow any trans-shipped cattle into the region is questionable. Argentina has challenged American agriculture in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and defaulted on billions of dollars in U.S. loans, refusing to negotiate a fair settlement for the debt despite U.S. court judgments against Argentina."

Wooster continued, "Cattle producers appreciate Representatives Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.), Nancy Boyda (D-Kan.), Steve Kagen (D-Wis.), and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) for signing on as original co-sponsors of the "Foot-and-Mouth Disease Prevention Act of 2008." USCA will continue to work on this issue on Capitol Hill and towards garnering support in Congress to ensure the bill becomes law.

"Congress needs to hold USDA accountable for maintaining the highest import standards possible and protecting the U.S. cattle industry from the introduction of foreign animal disease," Wooster concluded. "USDA's proposed plan to regionalize Argentina does not move our industry in the right direction and we are pleased Congress is taking action."