TheSite Foot and Mouth Disease News
R-calf Praises FMD Legislation
US - R-CALF USA has announced that it is glad to see politicians keep up the fight to prevent the introduction of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) from Argentina into the United States."Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is still considering whether to open the U.S. to imports of beef from certain regions of Argentina, despite the fact that Argentina detected a case of FMD as recently as 2006," says R-calf.
The Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Act of 2009 prohibits the importation of Argentine ruminants and swine, or any fresh, chilled or frozen meat or product of any ruminant or swine born, raised or slaughtered in Argentina until the Agriculture Secretary certifies to Congress that every region of Argentina is free of FMD without vaccination.
“FMD is recognized internationally as one of the most contagious diseases of cloven-hoofed animals and it bears the potential to cause severe economic losses to U.S. cattle producers,” said R-CALF USA President/Region VI Director Max Thornsberry, a Missouri veterinarian who also chairs the group’s animal health committee.
“R-CALF stands ready to assist Representative Herseth and Representative Loomis in building both industry and congressional support for this important disease-prevention measure,” he continued. “We thank these legislators for their efforts to protect the U.S. cattle industry from the unnecessary and dangerous exposure to FMD from Argentinean imports.”
