U.S. gains upgraded ‘mad cow’ risk classification

   The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has upgraded the United States’ risk classification for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or “mad cow” disease, to negligible risk.
   “This is a significant achievement that has been many years in the making for the United States, American beef producers and businesses, and federal and state partners who work together to maintain a system of interlocking safeguards against BSE that protect our public and animal health,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a statement. “This decision demonstrates OIE’s belief that both our surveillance for, and safeguards against, BSE are strong. U.S. beef and beef products are of the highest quality, wholesome and produced to the highest safety standards in the world.”
   According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, exports of American beef and beef products reached $5.5 billion in 2012.
   “With our negligible risk classification from the OIE, we have a strong foundation in place to continue increasing exports of U.S.-origin beef and beef products,” Vilsack said. “In doing so, we will continue to press trading partners to base their decisions on science, consistent with international standards. U.S. food and agricultural exporters and consumers worldwide benefit when countries adopt science-based international standards.”
   “We think the decision announced by the OIE (Wednesday) should provide a number of beef importing countries with a reason to reevaluate their requirements for beef imports from the United States,” said Philip Seng, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
   The USDA identified a cow with BSE in December 2003, causing U.S. beef exports to suddenly drop off to many parts of the world. Since then, the U.S. government has upgraded its BSE detection and the country has reestablished much of its beef export trade globally.