USDA Probes Whether US Imported Banned Canada Beef
Date: 10-May-04
Country: USA
Author: Randy Fabi
R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America, a U.S. cattle industry group, this week accused the USDA of improperly allowing imports of 3.5 million pounds of Canadian bone-in meat products between September 2003 and February 2004.
The beef products have been banned in the United States as a safety precaution since Canada discovered a domestic case of mad cow disease one year ago.
Sen. Tim Johnson, a South Dakota Democrat, on Thursday requested a federal investigation into Canadian bone-in beef imports.
"We're looking into that. But we believe that allegation is based upon information that was allowable product under the August directive," Veneman told reporters. "We believe it was primarily veal."
Last August, the USDA announced it would allow imports of veal from Canadian calves 36 weeks of age and younger. It also resumed shipments of boneless beef from Canadian cattle under 30 months of age.
The USDA said Canadian bone-in veal imports between Sept. 1, 2003, and April 14, 2004, totaled 15.5 million pounds.
The United States also imported from Canada 3,100 pounds of bone-in beef that originated in Australia and New Zealand, but further processed in Canada.
The USDA said it was working with the U.S. Customs Service to clarify the issue.
"In the past it has not been uncommon that one agency's records of trade data do not match another agency's records," said USDA spokesman Ed Loyd.
The USDA on April 19 began allowing hamburger and bone-in beef from young Canadian cattle after federal officials concluded that the products posed a minimal risk in spreading mad cow disease.
The USDA reversed its decision on Wednesday after R-CALF won a court order prohibiting the resumption of trade.
The department said it will use a formal rule-making procedure to determine whether those beef products should be allowed into the United States from Canada.
