Grassley Works to Get Beef Exports on Track
Iowa Senator Requests Special Envoy
In the wake of a recent BSE scare on American soil, Sen. Chuck Grassley, of Iowa, today sent a letter with several of his Senate colleagues to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman requesting a special high-level envoy to work with our trading partners to lift foreign import bans on U.S. beef exports.
"Unfortunately, more than forty countries have imposed bans on the importation of U.S. beef products. The loss of these markets poses a major problem for Iowa's beef producers. We need to do all we can to keep our export markets open," Grassley said. "This will send a strong signal that the United States is committed to working in a science-based manner to re-open our trading markets."
Here is the letter.
January 7, 2004
The Honorable Ann Veneman
Secretary
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-0003
Dear Secretary Veneman:
Thank you for your hard work and dedication in response to the recent discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a single dairy cow late last month. Your hard work is helping to restore consumer confidence in the safety of the U.S. food supply. Unfortunately, in the wake of this discovery, more than 40 countries – including most of our largest export markets – have imposed bans on the importation of U.S. beef products. It is difficult to overstate the danger that the loss of these markets poses to an industry worth $175 billion to our constituents.
Swift and vigilant action is needed to minimize this loss and to ensure a re-opening of trade at the earliest possible juncture. Accordingly, we ask that you make re-opening borders to American beef a top priority by appointing a special, high-level envoy who will maintain a persistent and productive dialogue with each of these countries, and with any other country that is considering imposing a similar ban. A special envoy empowered by you to negotiate directly with trading partners around the world will send a strong signal that the U.S. is committed to working in a science-based manner to re-open trade.
Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that DNA tests confirm the Canadian origin of the infected cow. Importantly, this means that the U.S. should be considered BSE-free, according to the standards of the International Office of Epizootics (OIE), to which 165 countries -including nearly all of those who have imposed import bans -are signatories, provided the calves born to this cow within the past two years have been slaughtered. The OIE standards represent a global consensus of scientific opinion. Indeed, the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures encourages all WTO members to harmonize their own SPS regimes to OIE standards, in the pursuit of a common international standard.
The beef industry is a pivotal economic component of many rural communities, and we know the U.S. has the safest food supply in the world. That's why we must do all we can to ensure stability in the market, which includes re-opening these borders as soon as possible.
A special envoy, authorized by you to work tirelessly towards the termination of import bans against U.S. beef, will be dedicated to full and constant communication with our trading partners, as well as with all other federal agencies, to bring stability to an industry that is essential to the health of the U.S. rural economy.
Thank you in advance for your immediate consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Chuck Grassley, of Iowa
Max Baucus, of Montana
Larry Craig, of Idaho
Ben Nelson, of Nebraska
Norm Coleman, of Minnesota
Zell Miller, of Georgia
Mike Crapo, of Idaho
Mark Dayton, of Minnesota
Saxby Chambliss, of Georgia
Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky
