NCBA Advisory

December 26, 2003

To: NCBA Member Organizations
Contact: Rick McCarty, NCBA Denver 303-694-0305
Kendal Frazier 303-694-0305

Subject: BSE Updates

Dec. 26, 2003 BSE Information Update

-This is the third day of the USDA investigation.
-The International Reference Laboratory in Weybridge, England on Dec. 25 reviewed the slides of the BSE tests performed in the United States and concluded that they were interpreted correctly - positive. The lab is conducting its own further tests for confirmation on tissue sent for testing.
-A third premise in Washington state is under quarantine. That is a bull calf feeding operation in Sunnyside, Wash. That is where the calf recently born to the infected cow was sent. The calf is in a facility with 400 other bull calves ranging in age from 7 to 30 days.
-As part of the trace-forward investigation, the other two calves born to the infected cow have been identified. One died at birth in 2001. The other is in the index herd and under quarantine with the other 4,000 animals.
-Investigators are looking at two paths in the trace-back investigation. One is a livestock market where the owner of the infected cow bought animals in October 2001. The other is a dairy cow finishing herd of about 100 animals.
-FDA continues to believe that the infected animal consumed contaminated feed early in its life as the incubation period for BSE is four to six years. The infected cow is believed to be 4 to 4 ½ years old. It was alert but non-ambulatory at time of slaughter.
-It is too early for USDA to speculate about indemnity plans for cattle owners.
The list of countries with temporary beef bans against the United States has grown from the 10 reported Dec. 24 with USMEF reporting 18 countries. Almost all export trade has stopped, as has been the protocol in this situation. Canada still permits imports of U.S. beef from cattle under 30 months of age.
-USDA on Dec. 27 is sending a trade delegation to Japan led by David Hegwood, special counsel to Secretary Veneman, along with former NCBA staff member Chuck Lambert.
-NCBA has called on the Bush Administration to make resumption of beef exports the top trade priority within the Administration, and for the Administration to use all resources available to it to minimize the period of trade disruption.
-NCBA has called on USDA to step up the timeline for creating and implementing an animal ID program. This work was already in progress and NCBA has been a leader in the program. But even if such a system had recently been put in place, as in Canada, there would be limitations. In Canada, animals could be traced forward rapidly because they were younger animals that had been born into the system. Trace-back was problematic because older animals don't have birth-to-harvest documentation.
-As part of its BSE surveillance plan, USDA has been increasing the number of animals it tests. In FY2003, 20,526 have been tested. The goal for FY2004 is 38,000.
-NCBA is calling for USDA to implement a "test and hold" program on carcasses where the animal is being tested for BSE.

Media Coverage

NCBA held its third tele-news conference call with the news media today. The more than 60 news media that participated in the call included ABC News, NCB News, CNN, Associated Press, The New York Times, Nation's Restaurant News, Meat Processing Magazine, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, and the Baltimore Sun. In addition, NCBA spokespersons conducted interviews with all the major print and television network and cable outlets. We continue to deliver the message that U.S. beef is safe and that we are working with the government to find out the origin of the cow and the cause of the Washington BSE case.

An editorial by NCBA President Eric Davis has been submitted to USA Today for Monday publication. The editorial reassures consumers that U.S. beef remains the world's safest.

Terry Stokes to Meet Monday in Washington D.C. With Government Officials

NCBA CEO Terry Stokes will be in Washington D.C. Monday to meet with high ranking government officials to discuss trade and other issues about the BSE case. NCBA has organized a meeting Monday with a coalition of industry organizations to discuss the many issues surrounding the BSE incident.

Positive Reassurance Statement from the American Culinary Federation

Ed Leonard, president of the American Culinary Federation (ACF), issued a statement to all professional chefs concerning the Washington state BSE case. "The American Culinary Federation accepts the statement by Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman that the risk to the nation's food supply and human health resulting from this single incident is extremely low, "said Leonard, a certified master chef and executive chef of Westchester Country Club in Rye, N.Y. "We are confident in the systems implemented by the U.S. beef industry and U.S. government to ensure the safety of America's beef supply." The entire ACF statement can be found at http://www.acfchefs.org/media/pr031224.html.

Additional information can be found at www.BSEinfo.org

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