Veneman to Cattlemen: Administration Proposes Boost in BSE Prevention

(PHOENIX) January 29, 2004 -- The Bush Administration is proposing to boost its commitment to prevent bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) by $47 million in fiscal 2005, according to Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman. The Secretary made the announcement today at the Cattle Industry Annual Convention in Phoenix.

Veneman said the President would request a total of $60 million for activities designed to prevent BSE in the U.S., a 377 percent increase over fiscal 2004.The funding would be spread over multiple agencies and would be used for: accelerated development of a national animal identification system, the collection of 40,000 samples and tests for BSE at rendering plants and on farms, advanced research and development of BSE testing technologies, monitoring compliance of regulations for specified risk materials and advanced meat recovery, and enabling the rapid response of teams to markets experiencing BSE related complaints regarding contracts or lack of prompt payment.

“The Bush Administration remains committed to protecting public health and the safety of our food supply,” Veneman said. “These additional resources will fund enhanced prevention activities, including increased testing, monitoring and surveillance for BSE.”

One week after a single case of BSE was found in Washington state, the Bush Administration announced actions to further enhance safeguards already in place to prevent BSE from entering the food supply. The actions include the prohibition of non-ambulatory animals from the human food supply, further restrictions of specified risk materials in the food supply, requiring additional process controls for establishments using advanced meat recovery systems, and holding meat from cattle that have been tested for BSE until negative test results are received.

Veneman told cattlemen the Administration is considering a proposal to transfer emergency funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation to help finance these activities for 2004.The Agriculture Department transferred $10.5 million from the corporation last fall to double BSE testing from 20,000 to 40,000 in fiscal 2004.

The Administration announced on Jan. 13 its fiscal 2005 budget would also include $178 million to complete the renovation of the Department of Agriculture’s new National Centers for Animal Health in Ames, Iowa. The Centers is devoted to large animal research and diagnosis, and is where the single case of BSE found in Washington state in December was diagnosed. Veneman said if Congress approves the request, the final installment of the $460 million needed to fully renovate the facilities could be made, allowing the project to be completed by 2008.

At a press conference following her address to the convention, Veneman said that five weeks have passed since the BSE case was discovered, “and our worst fears have not played out – consumer confidence in U.S. beef remains strong.

“I know this has been a top priority for the NCBA (National Cattlemen’s Beef Association),” she said, “and you are to be commended for making experts available to explain BSE” to consumers and the news media. She said the $1-per-head beef checkoff has been crucial in consumer education efforts and in getting accurate and timely information to the public.

Veneman said the BSE investigation would be complete “in a matter of days or weeks, not months,” and that this would help Administration efforts to restore foreign beef markets that closed because of the BSE case. She said the U.S. is discussing with Canada and Mexico enhanced coordination of BSE prevention efforts for North America: “The U.S. is taking the lead on this so that science guides the actions of all nations.”

Veneman also told cattlemen at the convention: