March 12, 2007

US group calls for accurate labels on beef imports
 

Members of the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) in the US expressed outrage "at the latest fiasco related to the potential spread of mad cow disease in Canada," and demand the immediate implementation of country-of-origin labelling of beef.

On February 9, Canadian officials confirmed the ninth case of mad cow disease in its territory and quarantined two dairy farms and five cattle ranches in Saskatchewan on contaminated feed in early March.

The feed contained ruminant meat and bone meal, which Canada banned from cattle feed in 1997 to protect against the spread of mad cow disease.

WORC spokesperson and Idaho rancher Mabel Dobbs said the Canada incident indicates the need to maintain protection for US consumers and cattle markets and the immediate implementation of label meat by country of origin.

Earlier this year, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a proposed rule to allow Canadian cattle over 30 months of age to enter this country. Currently, live cattle under 30 months of age and boxed beef move freely from Canada into the U.S.

Dobbs said the continuing mad cow problems in Canada are hurting US beef exports as foreign buyers are concerned about US taking in Canadian beef.

She added the USDA should strengthen its protection to its US consumers and cattle producers and for the Congress to implement a mandatory country-of-origin labelling of meat.

Based in Billings, Montana, WORC represents farmers, ranchers, and consumers in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, and Wyoming.