Last week, Brazil reported another atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy to the World Organization for Animal Health. That report indicated 35 days elapsed between when the case was first identified on Jan. 18, 2023, and the date it was confirmed on Feb. 22, 2023.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has called the delay between finding and reporting the incident to WOAH, and states that the delay was a clear violation of WOAH reporting requirements.
“It is clear that Brazil is incapable of prompt testing and the reporting requirements that all nations must follow when engaging in international beef trade,” NCBA stated in a recent news release.
Because of a repeated pattern of delayed reporting, the NCBA is calling on U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to take immediate action to indefinitely suspend beef imports from Brazil until it has made systemic reforms and takes necessary steps to restore confidence in the nation’s ability to participate in the global beef supply.
“We have seen Brazil repeatedly fail to meet the 24-hour requirement for reporting of animal diseases listed by WOAH. In order to protect the safety and security of the U.S. herd and American cattle producers, we demand USDA take immediate steps to block further beef imports from Brazil,” said NCBA President and South Dakota cattleman Todd Wilkinson. “Furthermore, we expect USDA to keep the border closed to Brazil until they can demonstrate that they are willing and able to play by the trade rules that govern all other nations. If they can’t play by the rules, they don’t deserve access. Secretary Vilsack needs to act now, rather than kicking the can down the road.”
Yesterday, NCBA sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture demanding immediate action on this issue. NCBA is also supportive of bipartisan Senate legislation to suspend Brazilian beef imports pending a review of Brazil’s standards.
“For too long, American cattlemen and women have honored the laws governing international trade, promoting fair and equitable standards, only to have nations like Brazil ignore those same standards. Brazil cannot be allowed to benefit from the investments we have made to build a massive demand for beef around the globe,” Wilkinson said. “If trade partners like Brazil fail to follow the rules, there must be consequences, they must be painful and immediate.”
The United States is a major importer of Brazilian beef. In 2021, two cases of atypical mad cow disease also occurred in Brazil. And while China has shut down their imports of Brazilian beef, U.S. beef has been left unfazed. While the case reported in Peru was atypical, NCBA maintains that this type of case should have been reported within 24 hours — not over 30 days.
