USDA's proposed ban on Argentinean meat receives support
A proposal by US Senators to ban Argentinean meats until the USDA proves the country is FMD-free has been welcomed by the National Farmers Union.
The Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Act of 2008 was introduced by Sens. Tim Johnson, D-S.D. and Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., last week.
''The legislation's proposed ban is necessary to protect the nation's food supply,'' NFU President Tom Buis said.
FMD is a highly infectious virus that, if introduced into the United States, could contaminate entire herds and leave producers in financial ruin.
According to USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the economic impacts of a re-occurrence of FMD in the US could cost the economy billions of dollars in the first year alone.
The US has banned Argentinean meat since an FMD outbreak occurred in the country in 2001.
In March, the region of Southern Patagonia in Argentina was to have been granted the right to export to the US since it has not had a case of FMD since 1976. Argentine officials have been pressuring the US to accept beef shipment from the region.