USDA Still Blocks Mad Cow Tests

NoNAIS.org ^ | 2006-05-13 | Walter Jeffries

[pubwvj]

The USDA is still blocking US companies from testing their own beef to prove it is BSE free. This is hurting US beef exports to Japan. The USDA claims we need the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) which they developed to help with beef exports to Japan.

With one hand the USDA forces heavy handed, expensive regulations on all livestock owners in the form of NAIS. With the other hand the USDA blocks a simple, foolproof test, that they developed, which would open up foreign markets to US beef. What gives?

Is this all just an excuse for the government to trample on our rights and invade our privacy with more control over our lives and livelihood? More government micromanagement. Check out the Government Accounting Office report 05-214 where they detail how they will, without a warrant or legal appeal, kill all healthy and diseased, domestic and wild animals within 6 miles of a disease outbreak. (Pages 31 & 34)

Is that going to protect consumers? No. What they need to be doing is stop the practice of feeding cows to cows, do their job of inspecting meat and test for disease at the processing plants. The USDA, as usual, has it all bass ackwards.

[snowsislander]

Yes, it seems absurd that the USDA forbids simple and inexpensive testing by the owners of cattle, but is mandating a vast, expensive animal tracking system.

[annie laurie]

I wasn't aware of this until your post. Good grief, absolutely ridiculous!