March 24, 2008

Argentina urges US to allow Patagonian beef, lamb exports

Argentina's government is currently pressuring the USDA to accept South Patagonian exports of fresh, frozen and chilled beef and lamb products to the US.

The US cattle industry groups and senators have lately been asking the USDA to disallow imports of Patagonian beef due to the presence of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Argentina.

In March 7, Argentina's deputy chief of mission Jose Perez Gabilondo called on the US to normalize trade relations with the Argentine region of South Patagonia.

Gabilondo ensured that shipments of beef or lamb from South Patagonia pose no threat to the health of the US beef and sheep industries.

Argentine officials said that the country has done everything asked by the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), as well as by the World Animal Health Organization (OIE).

There is no legitimate basis not to implement USDA's January 2007 proposed rule to declare the region free of FMD and Rinderpest, and to lift the US import ban, Gabilondo explained.

South Patagonia and North Patagonia are both FMD-free without vaccination, according to the OIE, which also declared all of Argentina FMD-free with vaccination in March 2007.

The US Cattlemen's Association and National Cattlemen's Beef Association, frequent adversaries on separate beef trade issues such as US import policies for Canadian beef, are united in their opposition to USDA's proposed rule on Argentine beef regionalization.