We have a chance until April 22nd to affect a rule pending at USDA which would relax current restrictions on the importation of livestock, meat, and animal products from a region of Brazil that has been affected by Foot and Mouth Disease.
As you may recall, at our Annual Convention earlier this year, the Ohio Farmers Union adopted a special order of business concerning beef imports from Brazil:
Importation of Fresh Beef from Argentina and Brazil
The USDA is currently proposing to allow importation of fresh beef from Argentina and Brazil. Although the specific areas where the beef could be imported from have been declared to be free of Hoof and Mouth Disease, OFU does not believe that this is verifiable over time. HMD is easily transmissible and the beef health and safety protocols of other countries are not as stringent as in the United States.
OFU therefore does not support allowing fresh beef imports from Argentina and Brazil, and urges OFU members to comment on the USDA’s website to oppose this threat to the health of the US beef herd.
This issue is now live and we need you to submit comments online at the USDA at the following link:
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2009-0017-0010
In the upper right area of the page, you’ll click on the “Comment Now!” button. I just commented and it took me about five minutes to write a comment and provide some basic information. I simply commented as myself, but did mention I am a member of OFU and noted our special order. Below, you’ll find the text of my comment to perhaps help you with yours. Please comment and forward this email to folks who might not be on our list but would be interested in this issue of importance to not only family farmers but consumers as well!
My Comment:
I am Ron Sylvester of Bexley, Ohio and a member of the Ohio Farmers Union. I write in opposition to relaxing the current restrictions on the importation of livestock and animal products – including fresh or frozen beef – from the states or regions of Brazil as outlined in the proposed rule.
On February 1, 2014, at the 80th Annual Meeting of the Ohio Farmers Union, our organization adopted a special order of business in opposition to relaxing fresh or frozen beef imports from Brazil into the U.S. It reads:
Importation of Fresh Beef from Argentina and Brazil
The USDA is currently proposing to allow importation of fresh beef from Argentina and Brazil. Although the specific areas where the beef could be imported from have been declared to be free of Hoof and Mouth Disease, OFU does not believe that this is verifiable over time. HMD is easily transmissible and the beef health and safety protocols of other countries are not as stringent as in the United States.
OFU therefore does not support allowing fresh beef imports from Argentina and Brazil, and urges OFU members to comment on the USDA’s website to oppose this threat to the health of the US beef herd.
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As an organization advocating for independent, family farmers and consumers, there are also troubling market conditions in the U.S. where the largest meatpacker in our country is now JBS, a Brazilian company. Many of our members are extremely concerned about the consolidation in U.S. meatpacking and the growing market impact of foreign companies on our markets and the potential for backsliding on food safety, quality and the consumer’s right to know from where their food originates.
To this observer, this rule appears to benefit no party other than JBS.
Thank You For Your Consideration,
Ron Sylvester
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