January 8, 2008

EU blasts existing US ban on European beef

While the US is pressuring Asian countries such as South Korea and Japan to accept beef from cattle older than 30 months of age, it is rejecting the same type of beef from the EU, Ambassador John Bruton, Head of the EU Commission Delegation to the US said. 

Accusing the US of double standards on the issue, Bruton also sought to remind the US that the US and EU had forged an agreement recognising the fact that boneless beef under 30 months of age do not pose any risks, at the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) in 2005.

Japan and previously South Korea  do not allow beef from cattle above 20 months of age as it believed beef from such cattle, especially when it came from countries with mad cow incidences are not safe. Older cows are said to be more susceptible to the disease.

While the US used the 2005 agreement to get Asia to accept beef from cattle older than 20 months, it is barring EU imported beef from entering the US for the same reason that was used in Asia previously.

Bruton also called for greater progress in the area of inspection: USDA inspectors spent more than 300 days in 2008 inspecting EU beef plants last year, whereas EU inspectors only took 30 days to inspect US plants.

In response, the USDA said that while US beef  had received OIE certification, EU beef has not. Since each EU country has its own methods, food safety systems and standards in meat production, US inspections would take longer.