Today, leaders of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Confederación Nacional de Organizaciones Ganaderas, and Canadian Cattle Association signed a joint statement to continue advocating for greater oversight of emerging lab-grown proteins, protecting cattle from animal diseases, and promoting the sustainability of the cattle industry. This action builds on the recent statement signed with Cattle Australia and furthers international partnerships between cattle producers.
“The signing of this joint statement is an important step that unites cattle producers across North America and around the world to promote and protect efficient cattle production,” said NCBA President and Wyoming rancher Mark Eisele.
Following the joint statement signing, NCBA, CNOG, and CCA also signed a letter addressed to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Secretaria de Economía Raquel Buenrostro Sanchez, and Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Mary Ng urging the U.S., Mexican, and Canadian governments to re-engage in opening markets for beef exports and provide stronger science-based oversight of beef imports.
The associations argue that three governments have expanded market access for beef imports while providing little opportunities for beef exports. If this continues, it will place North American cattle producers at a competitive disadvantage to other beef producers, including South America.
“I am also pleased that American, Mexican, and Canadian cattle producers are standing together to hold our trade partners accountable. For the United States, we have significant concerns that Brazil continues to have access to the U.S. market even though they have a repeated history of failing to disclose animal health concerns, including cases of atypical BSE,” Eisele added. “We continue urging our respective governments to protect the beef supply by blocking Brazilian imports. We are pleased to be partners on these issues and act as the voice of cattle farmers and ranchers to our respective governments.”
NCBA has previously raised concerns with Brazil’s access to the American market due to the country’s failure to report cases of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy promptly to the World Organization for Animal Health.
These atypical cases occur spontaneously, but countries must report any cases within 24 hours to WOAH. The United States has upheld the 24-hour requirement continuously, but Brazil has often delayed reporting cases from anywhere between 35 days and nearly two years.
“That lack of transparency increases the risk to food safety and makes Brazil an unreputable trading partner,” writes NCBA.
»Related: Florida becomes first state to ban lab-grown meat sales