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1 1 (March 2, 2016)

handle is hein.crs/govcdwt0001 and id is 1 raw text is: FF.ri E~$~ & March 2, 2016 Fresh Beef Import Rules for Brazil and Argentina On July 2, 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued final rules allowing import of fresh beef (chilled or frozen) from Brazil (80 Fed. Reg. 37923) and Argentina (80 Fed. Reg. 37935). U.S. beef imports from Brazil have been restricted to processed/cooked products because of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). From 1997 to 2001, fresh beef imports from Argentina were allowed until being suspended in 2001 after an outbreak of FMD. Under the final rules, APHIS determined that Brazil and Argentina have controlled FMD and that fresh beef can be safely imported from certain regions in Brazil and from Argentina. Before the United States removes these import restrictions, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) must determine if the countries' food safety systems provide the same level of food safety as the U.S. system. As of March 1, 2016, FSIS had not determined if the slaughter systems in Brazil and Argentina are equivalent. Stakeholder groups, including the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund (R-CALF), and the National Farmers Union have strongly opposed the APHIS ruling. They are primarily concerned that fresh beef imports from Brazil and Argentina could become a source of FMD infection in the United States. Opponents have raised questions about the APHIS risk assessment and whether or not it was rigorous enough. Other groups, such as the North American Meat Institute (NAMI, or Meat Institute), support the rules. Supporters argue that because the United States is a major exporter of meat and poultry, it is important that international guidelines based in science be followed to protect access to U.S. products in foreign markets. ~~tstenc*~ . . , M FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that infects cloven-hoofed animals. FMD is not a public health or food safety threat but its introduction into the United States could be devastating to the cattle industry. The United States has had nine recorded FMD outbreaks dating back to the late 1800s. The last FMD outbreak in the United States occurred in 1929. If there were an FMD outbreak, infected animals would be euthanized and movement of animals and people would be restricted to the area around an outbreak. U.S. exports of livestock and products would be halted and it could take considerable time to regain entry into those lost markets. In 2015, according to USDA data, the U.S. beef industry exported more than $6 billion in beef and offal products, and about $2 billion more in cattle related products. Total exports of animals, meat, dairy and related products exceeded $18 billion in 2015, all of which could be at risk in the event of an FMD outbreak. A 2011 study from Iowa State University estimated that the losses of revenue for the beef and pork industry due to an FMD outbreak could be as high as $13 billion per year for ten years. The extent of the economic damage caused by an FMD outbreak would largely depend on several factors: (1) the location of the outbreak, and how close it was to a livestock-dense area; (2) the length of time of the outbreak; (3) the extent to which the United States would be shut out of export markets; (4) whether regionalization agreements could be reached with trading partners; and (5) how consumers would react to an outbreak. FMD is a global animal disease problem. World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) member countries must report any outbreak, re-occurrence, or new FMD strain within their borders to the OIE. In 2014 there were 779 FMD outbreaks reported by 18 OIE member countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Of the 180 OIE member countries, 67 are recognized as FMD free. One country, Uruguay, is recognized as FMD free with vaccination. Some member countries have specified regions, or zones that are recognized by OIE as FMD free, or FMD free with vaccination. The OIE has established guidelines for how trade in livestock and products should be conducted when there is an FMD outbreak and how to recover FMD-free status. The OIE recognizes that trade may take place from FMD-free regions within a country that is not recognized as FMD free. The guidelines are defined in Chapter 8.8 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code. When foreign countries request U.S. recognition of a particular animal disease status, according to APHIS regulations (9 C.F.R. 92.2) they must submit detailed information on the following eight areas: * the scope of the evaluation of health status being requested; * veterinary control and oversight; * disease history and vaccination practices; * livestock demographics and traceability; * epidemiological separation from potential sources of infection; * surveillance practices; * diagnostic laboratory capabilities; and * emergency preparedness and response. After APHIS reviews the submitted information, a team is to conduct site visits to review a foreign country's procedures, policies, surveillance, and control measures. .O 'T p\w -- , gn'a', goo mppm qq\ a , q 'S I 11LIANJILiN,

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