May 10, 2004

 

 

USDA Probes Whether US Imported Banned Canada Beef

 

United Stockgrowers of America, a U.S. cattle industry group, this week accused the USDA of improperly allowing imports of 3.5 million pounds of Canadian bone-in meat products between September 2003 and February 2004.

 

The beef products have been banned in the United States as a safety precaution, since Canada discovered a domestic case of mad cow disease one year ago.

 

Sen. Tim Johnson, a South Dakota Democrat, requested a federal investigation into Canadian bone-in beef imports on Thursday.

 

"We're looking into that. But we believe that allegation is based upon information that it was an allowable product under the August directive," Veneman told reporters. "We believe it was primarily veal."

 

Last August, the USDA announced it would allow imports of veal from Canadian calves 36 weeks of age and younger. It also resumed shipments of boneless beef from Canadian cattle under 30 months of age.

 

The USDA said Canadian bone-in veal imports between Sept. 1, 2003 and April 14, 2004, totaled 15.5 million pounds.

 

In addition, the United States imported from Canada 3,100 pounds of bone-in beef that originated in Australia and New Zealand, but further processed in Canada.

 

The USDA said it was working with the U.S. Customs Service to clarify the issue.

 

"In the past it has not been uncommon that one agency's records of trade data do not match another agency's records," said USDA spokesman Ed Loyd.

 

On April 19, the USDA began allowing hamburger and bone-in beef from young Canadian cattle, after federal officials concluded that the products posed a minimal risk in spreading mad cow disease.

 

The USDA reversed its decision on Wednesday after R-CALF won a court order prohibiting the resumption of trade.

 

The department said it would use a formal rule-making procedure to determine whether those beef products from Canada should be allowed into the United States.