FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Cattle Raisers oppose importing beef from Japan

FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 24, 2005―Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association expressed strong opposition today to a U.S. Department of Agriculture proposal that would allow imports of boneless beef from Japan.
            USDA published a proposed rule in the Aug. 18 Federal Register that would allow such imports if the product meets all U.S. safety standards.
            “This association is adamantly opposed to accepting imports of Japanese boneless beef until Japan starts accepting beef from the United States,” insisted TSCRA President Dick Sherron.
            Japan closed its borders to U.S. beef after BSE was discovered in Washington State in December 2003. Prior to that, Japan was the top destination for high-quality beef and beef variety meets produced by the United States, worth about $1.7 billion a year.
            “Loss of these exports to Japan, which historically have added about $65 per head to the value of fed cattle, has left a big hole in our pockets,” said Sherron.
            USDA began prohibiting imports of beef and beef products from Japan after BSE was detected there in September 2001. Japan recently requested that the ban be lifted.
            In a herd of 1.7 million head, Japan has had 20 cases of BSE, including five in 2005. Comparatively, the United States has had two cases in a herd of 104.5 million head, including one in 2005.
            After a through evaluation USDA determined that it is not necessary to continue the ban of “whole cuts of boneless beef that are derived from cattle born, raised and slaughtered in Japan, provided [certain] conditions are met.” This would include completely removing any specified-risk materials, segregating them from edible product and disposing of them in a proper manner.
            Research has demonstrated that only a limited number of tissues from cattle may harbor BSE infectivity. These specified-risk materials (SRM) are primarily the central nervous system tissues, such as the brain and spinal cord. Research has not demonstrated infectivity in muscle meat like steak, roasts and ground beef.
            The proposal to accept beef from Japan is also in accordance with international guidelines developed by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) for the safe trade of animal products with countries that have detected BSE.
            “TSCRA acknowledges that, historically, annual beef imports from Japan have been very small, averaging 19,000 pounds in recent years,” said Sherron.. “However, trade is a two-way street.”
            Despite repeated efforts by industry and government officials, Japan still refuses to accept U.S. beef.
            “There is no scientific basis for continued restrictions on boneless beef when safeguards such as removal of specified risk material are in place,” Sherron declared. “Both countries meet OIE guidelines for safety. But until Japan agrees to open their border to our beef, the finalization of this proposed rule would be a tremendous affront.

            Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is a 128-year-old trade organization whose 12,500 members manage approximately 5.4 million cattle on 70.3 million acres of range and pasture land, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma.

TSCRA-29-2005