After a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was recently reported in Brazil, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) called on President Joe Biden and his administration to immediately suspend the country’s beef imports to America.
“As you are aware, the United States has developed extensive safeguards to protect livestock producers and consumers from BSE and its devastating effects,” wrote Sen. Daines in a March 2 letter sent to Biden, noting that Brazil has a terrible record of delayed reports of atypical BSE cases to the World Animal Organization for Animal Health.
In fact, a recent report from Brazil was submitted 35 days after the first case was identified, the senator wrote.
“This pattern calls into question Brazil’s animal health and food safety systems, and continued importation of Brazilian beef may threaten the health and safety of U.S. cattle,” he added. “I believe recent concerns with Brazil’s food safety practices justify the immediate suspension of Brazil’s fresh beef imports until USDA can ensure livestock producers that Brazilian beef does not pose a risk to spread BSE or other potentially dangerous livestock diseases.”
Sen. Daines also pointed out in his letter that BSE has caused Brazil to suspend its beef exports to China, possibly due to a clause in Brazil’s trade agreement with China. “So once again, the United States finds itself in the situation of being behind China, this time in the realm of food safety,” he wrote.
Ranchers across his home state of Montana make their living by producing high-quality beef using science-based standards, he wrote.
“The U.S. food supply and cattle herds must be protected from undue risk of contamination until Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply enacts sweeping reforms to Brazil’s cattle industry and addresses these significant food safety concerns,” wrote Sen. Daines.