January 21, 2008

US cattlemen association opposes Argentinean entry to beef market

The United States Cattlemen's Association (USCA) expressed strong opposition against allowing Argentinean unprocessed beef access to the US market, on fears of foot and mouth disease.

Argentina is currently banned from the US due to FMD outbreaks last detected on February 2006.

In January 2007, the USDA issued a proposal to start importing beef from Argentina. In May, the World Organisation for Animal Health upgraded Argentina's FMD status to 'FMD free with vaccination' for the northern region and 'FMD free without vaccination' for the region south of Rio Negro.

Meanwhile, Uruguay has access for boneless beef to the US market since mid-2003, given its 'FMD free with vaccination' status.

The country exported 264,500 tonnes swt to the US in 2007, the majority of it frozen boneless forequarters for manufacturing.

Both Argentina and Uruguay have a 20,000-tonne preferential rate quota, which Argentina has not been able to use.

Uruguay's beef exports to the US, above its 20,000-tonne quota, attract a 26.4-percent import tariff.