Johanns Says Traceability Is Becoming A Critical Trade Issue

According to Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, the difficulty of tracing the origin and history of U.S. livestock underscores the need for a national animal identification system. - Posted 3/31/06 by AHB

USDA To Re-Audit Beef Plants Before Japan Trade Can Resume

U.S. beef processors must undergo new audits by USDA and additional scrutiny by Japanese officials before beef exports to Japan can resume.  - Posted 3/31/06 by AHB

U.S. Agrees To Train Workers Handling Beef Exports To Japan

USDA officials announced that as a condition of regaining access to Japanese markets, the U.S. will require further training of American workers handling beef exports to Japan.  - Posted 3/30/06 by AHB

Docket No. 04-041P

Determining Net Weight Compliance for Meat and Poultry Products. - Posted 3/29/06 by JBW

Immigration reform is front and center in Washington, where you can expect it to dominate for the next several weeks. - Posted 3/28/06 by JBW

Three Pork Products Most Profitable In 2005

The National Pork Board announces most profitable pork products of the past year. - Posted 3/27/06 by JBW

A survey of 4,260 U.S. citizens sponsored by the National Center for Food Protection and Defense revealed that Americans believe the greatest percentage of anti-terrorist spending should go to protect the food system and protect against a chemical or biological attack. - Posted 3/24/06 by JBW

Mad Cow Disease On The Wane Worldwide

The battle against BSE is not over, but the Food and Agriculture Organization has said that it's being won — cases of BSE have halved each year for the past three years. - Posted 3/24/06 by JBW

Creekstone Sues USDA Over BSE Testing

Creekstone Farms, the Arkansas City, Kan.-based beef processor that two years ago proposed testing export cattle for BSE, only to be denied by USDA, is taking its case to court. - Posted 3/24/06 by JBW

USDA Develops Rapid Salmonella Test For RTE Meats

Scientists with USDA's Agricultural Research Service are working on a new test to detect salmonella in ready-to-eat meats. - Posted 3/23/06 by JBW

New Process May Block Production Of Prions In Animals

Researchers are exploring the potential for a process that would block the production of malformed prions, the believed cause of such diseases as BSE, in livestock. - Posted 3/23/06 by JBW

Fires Won't Affect U.S. Beef Price

Wildfires in Texas and other areas have killed thousands of cattle, but beef supplies will not slump. - Posted 3/21/06 by JBW

Identification System Needed For Cattle

The recent case of BSE underscores the need for a national livestock tracking system. - Posted 3/20/06 by JBW

OIG: Processor Abused Cattle While Inspectors Played Games

Iowa-based Agriprocessors Inc. repeatedly violated provisions of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act while government inspectors played consumer games and ate meat improperly provided by plant managers. - Posted 3/20/06 by JBW

USDA Exhumes Infected Cow, Confirms Age

The USDA has exhumed and examined the body of the beef cow that was diagnosed with BSE and confirmed the animal was at least 10 years old. - Posted 3/20/06 by JBW

Despite New BSE Case, Surveillance To Be Cut Back

USDA will cut back its testing for BSE as planned, despite the discovery of another case in Alabama last week. - Posted 3/16/06 by JBW

Second USDA Confirmatory Test Results Positive For BSE

The USDA's APHIS announced that the second of two BSE confirmatory tests conducted on an Alabama cow has returned a positive result. - Posted 3/16/06 by JBW

Japan: Latest BSE Case Will Not Affect Beef Trade Negotiations

Talks between Japan and the United States about reopening the market to U.S. beef will be unaffected. - Posted 3/15/06 by JBW

Docket No. FSIS-2006-0002

National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods - Posted 3/14/06 by JBW

Docket No. 05-036C

Ante-Mortem Inspection of Horses; Correction - Posted 3/14/06 by JBW

USDA Denies Alabama BSE Case Will Affect Trade

The positive BSE result announced should have little effect on international beef trade. - Posted 3/14/06 by JBW

USDA Releases Guidelines for the Manufacture and Distribution of Official Identification Devices Under NAIS

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced the implementation of the animal-identification number (AIN) as the next phase of the voluntary National Animal Identification System. - Posted 3/14/06 by JBW

Western Blot Test Confirms Alabama Beef Cow Positive For BSE

A beef cow from a farm in Alabama has tested positive for bovine spongiform encephalopathy. - Posted 3/13/06 by JBW

Statement by USDA Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford (DVM) Regarding Positive BSE Test Results - March 13, 2006

U.S. Investigating Possible BSE Case

USDA is conducting a confirmatory test to determine if a third cow in the United States is infected with BSE. - Posted 3/13/06 by JBW

Johanns Has 'Candid Conversation' With Japanese Ag Minister Over Beef Impasse

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns meet with Japanese Agriculture Minister Shoichi Nakagawa about ineligible vertebrae parts shipped from a Brooklyn veal processor to Tokyo in January. - Posted 3/13/06 by JBW

Japan Unclear If U.S. Actions Would Prevent Future Banned Beef Shipments

News conference with Japan Vice Agriculture Minister Mamoru Ishihara. - Posted 3/8/06 by JBW

Canada Releases BSE Report

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced completion of its investigation into Canada's fourth case of BSE, which was confirmed on Jan. 22, 2006. - Posted 3/7/06 by AHB

‘Bird Flu Health Center' Launches On March 8

New web site promises to provide facts and findings on Avian Influenza. - Posted 3/7/06 by JBW

FSIS Rule Would Make Retail Lists Available During Recalls

FSIS announced a proposed rule which would make public lists of retail outlets that have received products that have been recalled. - Posted 3/6/06 by AHB

   

Docket No. 04-006P

Availability of Lists of Retail Consignees during Meat or Poultry Product Recalls

Beef Checkoff, LMA Reach Agreement

The Livestock Marketing Association and other plaintiffs have agreed to drop all claims in their legal actions against the USDA and the Cattlemen's Beef Board. - Posted 3/6/06 by JBW

FSIS To Launch 'Intensified Verification Testing' For Listeria

USDA's FSIS plans to perform "intensified verification testing" for Listeria monocytogenes at some 200 U.S. plants over the next year. - Posted 3/6/06 by JBW

Reaction Against Carbon Monoxide In Meat Packaging Spreads

Other grocers are weighing in against meat products packaged using carbon monoxide. - Posted 3/3/06 by JBW

Meat Locker Operator Sentenced To More Than Two Years

A Chicago cold-storage facility found to be overrun with rats and other vermin. - Posted 3/2/06 by JBW