Last year, the Food and Drug Administration issued a new rule that would increase the safety of the U.S. food supply by adding protections against bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The enhanced feed ban was expected to be implemented on April 27. However, due to lobbying efforts in Washington against these consumer protections, the FDA may extend the rule an additional 60 days. With the potential of a delayed rule, cattle producers and the Kansas Cattlemen's Association immediately took action to address the FDA.
KCA expressed the immediate need for implementation of the feed ban enhancement. Prohibiting the use of high-risk cattle material in feed for all animal species, this rule builds on the 1997 BSE feed regulation which remains in effect but only applies to feed for cattle and other ruminants. With a heightened risk of BSE from animals imported from Canada and a partial feed ban currently in place in the United States, delaying the implementation of this rule will only continue to delay these protections to consumers.
Working to protect the U.S. cattle herd and consumers from BSE for six years, KCA believes that every effort should be made to provide the safest product to the public. As FDA has the responsibility of promoting and protecting the public's health, there is no doubt that the issue should be addressed and immediate implementation will alleviate the risk of BSE and heighten consumer confidence.
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