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When will Mexico open its border?
Veneman press conference leaves more questions than answers
WASHINGTON (DTN)--Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman's press conference with the Canadian and Mexican agriculture ministers Jan. 16 ended in confusion over when and how Mexico might reopen the border to U.S. beef.
Veneman, Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Bob Speller and Mexican Secretary of Agriculture Javier Usabiaga held the press conference to emphasize their unity in dealing with the issue of bovine spongiform of encephalopathy following the discovery of BSE in a cow in Washington state on Dec. 23. The cow was found in Washington state, but was born in Canada. Another Canadian cow was found to have BSE last May.
After the discovery of BSE on Dec. 23, Mexico closed its border to U.S. beef. During the press conference, Usabiaga said Mexico would re-open its border to U.S. beef "as the United States agrees to implement Mexico's requests" about BSE.
Veneman then listed the changes the United States had already made such as taking meat from downer animals out of the food supply and said the United States had already instituted the changes necessary for the resumption of the North American trade in beef. Asked if it were true that--as Veneman said--the United States had taken the necessary steps, when the border would reopen, Usabiaga then said the United States would have to meet World Organization for Animal Health standards for protecting the meat supply from BSE.
The press conference ended almost immediately thereafter. Julie Quick, a USDA spokeswoman, said she could not clarify the situation because she had not been in the room during the discussion. Quick also said the press conference had ended because Usabiaga had to catch a plane to Mexico.
Agriculture Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services J.B. Penn told reporters in the hallway that he could not speak for the Mexican government but that it was his understanding that Mexican officials will reopen the border to U.S. beef when they "more fully understand" what steps the United States has taken. Penn noted that Mexican technical experts are in the United States at the present time to examine the U.S. meat safety system. Penn also told reporters he would set "no timetable" for the opening of the border because he did not want to "create expectations" about the reopening schedule.
During the press conference, the three agriculture ministers stressed the importance of maintaining consumer confidence in the meat supply.
Told by a reporter that other countries' decisions to close their border to U.S. beef was no different than the way the United States has acted in reaction to BSE in other countries and reminded that the United States still refuses to accept Japanese beef even though Japan tests every animal for BSE, Veneman said it was "true" that the United States has excluded meat from other countries. But Veneman said that when BSE was first discovered in Europe, much less was known about the disease and it was on a much bigger scale. Veneman declined to discuss any proposals the United States might present to Japan. U.S. officials are expected to visit Japan next week to discuss BSE.
The three ministers also agreed to continue to work together to try to convince the World Organization for Animal Health to focus on treating countries fairly and consistently if and when BSE is discovered.
Veneman said the three ministers did not discuss the animal feed issue in detail because the other ministers have jurisdiction over animal feed but that she does not. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration, part of the Health and Human Services Department, is in charge of animal feed.
Date: 1/29/04
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