United States Downgraded To Controlled Risk Country for BSE
WASHINGTON - The American Meat Institute (AMI) said today that it is gratified by the World Organization for Animal Health's (OIE) adoption of a recommendation to classify the U.S. as a controlled risk country for BSE and hopes that this classification will be the final step toward full restoration of beef trade with Korea.
23 May 2007
1 minute read
"This classification is a clear recognition of the U.S. beef industry's proactive efforts to prevent, detect and control BSE," said AMI President J. Patrick Boyle. He noted that no other BSE-free nation took so many aggressive measures to build firewalls to the disease before it was ever diagnosed within its borders. "The U.S.' aggressive surveillance system, which exceeds international guidelines, has confirmed that BSE is on its way out of North America. There is no doubt: U.S. cattle are healthy and U.S. beef is safe."
"We believe we have earned Korea's trust, and we hope that Korean consumers will soon have wider access to our products, which offer a safe, delicious and economical choice in the marketplace," Boyle added. He also said the beef industry was encouraged that Korea accepted a number of U.S. beef shipments during May.
AMI has said that it will support the Free Trade Agreement with Korea after U.S. beef trade is fully normalized.
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