Posted on 03/26/2006 7:40:37 AM PST by snowsislander
(Billings, Mont.) – Creekstone Farms Premium Beef, at a news conference Thursday in Washington, D.C., announced that it has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to get permission to voluntarily test all of its cattle for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
“R-CALF USA supports Creekstone in this effort because voluntary testing for BSE likely would help reopen and maintain certain export markets for U.S. beef, which in turn, would certainly benefit the thousands of independent cattle producers this organization represents,” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard. “The U.S. economy is based on free enterprise, and Creekstone is simply trying to meet the demands of its customers – a key objective for any successful business.”
Almost two years ago, R-CALF USA called on USDA to permit cutting-edge packers like Creekstone Farms to voluntarily test for BSE 100 percent of the animals processed there.
“Instead of thwarting innovation, USDA should be applauding and facilitating Creekstone’s entrepreneurial spirit,” Bullard asserted. “Creekstone is leading the beef-processing industry into a new era – one that is predicated on meeting the needs and wants of its customers, and in so doing, Creekstone has discovered a reasonable, efficient, and timely means for resuming export trade with Japan. Other like-minded meat processors are sure to follow if Creekstone’s efforts attract financial rewards.”
Except for a short time this winter, U.S. beef shipments to Japan have been banned since the December 2003 discovery of a BSE-positive cow that was imported into Washington state from Canada.
In 2005, U.S. cattle and beef exports were only 27 percent of their 2003 level (in dollar terms), while U.S. cattle and beef imports in 2005 were at 134 percent of their 2003 level. R-CALF USA believes the U.S. needs an aggressive, comprehensive strategy for resuming beef exports that fully protects animal health, that improves the marketability of U.S. beef through meeting various requirements demanded by our export customers, and that also supports consumer confidence in the safety of U.S. beef. Currently, cattle and beef imports into the U.S. face lower standards than our exports must meet overseas, and this mismatch undermines U.S. cattle producers and may also give foreign countries yet another excuse to keep their markets closed to U.S. beef products.
R-CALF USA Director of Government Relations Jess Peterson attended the news conference and said R-CALF USA’s policy has always been in support of voluntary BSE testing.
“R-CALF appreciates the work of the Administration and its efforts to open beef export markets through negotiations,” Peterson said. “R-CALF is serious about gaining entrance into these markets, and if the consumer is calling for testing and a packer is willing to meet that demand, those packers should be free to do so. Cattle producers will benefit from having options and opening a market with increased consumer confidence.”
Bullard said R-CALF USA is extremely disappointed that USDA has continued to deny Creekstone Farm’s requests to test for BSE.
“The cost to U.S. cattle producers and many of our packers has been in the billions of dollars,” Bullard pointed out. “On top of that, even if USDA quits obstructing these market requests, it will be years until the U.S. fully recovers these export markets from competing sources. Much has been lost due to delays USDA has inflicted on our industry’s commerce.
“The agency has forced Creekstone into a corner, causing this particular processor to seek a last-resort solution through litigation,” Bullard said. “R-CALF calls upon USDA to resolve the matter by immediately reversing its policy on voluntary BSE testing.”
Creekstone Farms Premium Beef Files Lawsuit Challenging USDA’s Ban on Voluntary BSE Testing
Washington - Creekstone Farms ® Premium Beef, LLC, an innovative market leader producing award winning Black Angus Beef, filed a lawsuit today against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Creekstone has sued USDA for refusing to allow the company to voluntarily test cattle for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) at its Arkansas City, Kansas facility. Creekstone’s complaint was filed this morning in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
Creekstone is challenging USDA’s claim that it has the legal authority to control access to and the use of the “test kits” needed to perform BSE testing. Over the past two years, USDA has repeatedly denied Creekstone’s requests to conduct voluntary BSE testing. Creekstone Farms has publicly stated that it believes U.S. beef is safe. Nevertheless, Creekstone’s customers, as well as other beef consumers around the world, want beef from BSE tested cattle. For example, a December 2005 poll by the Kyodo News Service found that more than half of Japanese consumers want U.S. beef to be tested for BSE. Creekstone simply wants to satisfy its customers.
“We produce the highest quality beef available in America in our state-of-the art processing facility. Our customers support our brand for the many points of difference we provide. If BSE testing is an additional attribute that our customers want, free enterprise should allow us to provide this additional element. In a country where free enterprise, satisfying consumers, and building businesses through thoughtful marketing and innovation are encouraged, I find it very difficult to understand why our government would not be supportive of this important effort,” said John Stewart, CEO and Founder of Creekstone Farms.
Creekstone Farms® Premium Beef, LLC was founded more than a decade ago with the goal of providing superior quality food products to satisfy the most discerning of palates. Today, the Creekstone Farms Premium Black Angus Beef program is one of a few branded programs certified by the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). Creekstone supplies many of the nation’s top grocers and restaurants with quality Black Angus Beef products, ranging from high quality Prime grade beef to premium value added consumer Heat & Serve entrees. Additionally, the company exports its premium quality products to Europe, Latin America and Asia. Creekstone is co-owned by Sun Capital Partners, one of America’s largest private investment companies and John Stewart, CEO and Founder of the company.
Sun Capital Partners, Inc. is a leading private investment firm focused on leveraged buyouts, equity, debt, and other investments in market-leading companies that can benefit from its in-house operating professionals and experience. Sun Capital affiliates have invested in and managed more than 110 companies worldwide with combined sales in excess of $27.0 billion since Sun Capital’s inception in 1995. Sun Capital has offices in Boca Raton, Los Angeles, New York, London, and Shenzhen.
Along with the NAIS nonsense, the USDA's actions here are incomprehensible. Why won't the USDA let Creekstone just get on with its business and allow the company do the tests that customer wants? This is the worst type of utterly useless government obstructionism.
The lobbyists for the other main line beef packers might be pushing this.If this packer can test 100%,then market forces would maybe dictate that all beef be 100% tested.Now that would hurt their bottom line,to hell with the people eating their beef.
I hope someday someone can calculate how much extra we pay for things due to government "rgulation clutter" (at all levels).
I envy our ancestors who had congressmen who spent most of their time farming, or in business; who met to pass laws and take care of business and then went back home.
Too bad the power hungry had to firgure out how to use the system to line their pockets and gain control over others.
Yes; I would have hoped that under a Republican administration that such nonsense as this and NAIS would have at least been put on hold, but it appears to go on unabated.
ping
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