February 4, 2004

Mad Cow Committee To Release Findings On US Case

An international panel of mad-cow disease experts is scheduled to brief the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wednesday morning on results of its investigation into the U.S. BSE case that was discovered in December.

Ron DeHaven, the USDA's chief veterinarian, told reporters Tuesday he expects the panel, which was was convened at the request of USDA Secretary Ann Veneman, to propose new BSE measures at the Wednesday briefing.

The panel's recommendations, whether or not the U.S. implements them, will be very important to foreign countries that are considering lifting bans on U.S. beef, DeHaven said.

"As we talk to trading partners about reopening markets for U.S. product, two of the things they are going to be interested in are: 'What was the conclusion of (USDA's) investigation?' and 'What did the international review team recommend?' and 'Are we adopting those recommendations?,'" he said.

DeHaven said the USDA's own investigation into the BSE case will likely be wrapped up in one to two weeks, and he said he couldn't promise the USDA will implement any of the international panel's recommendations without first studying them.

"We will carefully evaluate what they have to say and then respond accordingly," he said.

Canada asked for a similar international review after it discovered a case of mad-cow disease in May 2003.

More than 50 countries have banned beef and cattle exports from the U.S. following a Dec. 23 announcement that a single dairy cow slaughtered for its beef in Washington state had contracted BSE.