An overwhelming majority of respondents to an online survey of Progressive Cattlemanreaders shows 94 percent opposed to a USDA proposal to loosen export regulations for Brazil’s beef. Just 4 percent said the export rules should be relaxed to allow for more beef exports from the world’s fifth largest country.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to allow under certain conditions the importation of fresh (chilled or frozen) beef from Brazilian states, and cites risk assessments that show the beef can be safely imported.

Critics say the areas in question, along with other neighboring countries to Brazil that supply beef to that country, have not provided adequate controls for food-and-mouth disease (FMD).

The import rule public comment period has been extended to April 22; see the full proposal and submit comments online.  end mark 

Should the U.S. loosen its export regulations for beef coming from Brazil?

Advertisement

  • YES – Brazil's ability to detect the disease works fine: 6.1%

  • NO – Brazil needs to control its risks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease: 93.9%