USDA bans import of fresh Argentine beef

By Lisa R. Van Wagner,
Government Affairs Editor

USDA has dropped Argentina as a supplier of fresh beef to the US, and is considering prohibiting the importation of all cured or cooked beef from Argentina due to the presence of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Cordoba, La Pampa, San Luis and Santa Fe.

The US is working to keep the highly contagious FMD out of the country. The disease, which is devastating to ruminants and swine, has not appeared in the US since 1929.

Argentina joins the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands, as countries where there have been confirmed cases of FMD in recent months. While Greece has not had a confirmed case of FMD since the fall of 2000, it remains on the list, and is not considered FMD-free by USDA.

The US recently lifted the import restrictions on beef and swine meat from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden in recognition that FMD had not spread to these countries.

While cured or cooked beef from Argentina has not been prohibited entry, these products must meet the stringent regulations in place for cured and cooked meat from regions where FMD has been found.

USDA reports that the US is continuing to take strict measures to reduce the threat of FMD, including:

• prohibiting shipments of products from high risk countries
  
• increasing personnel at ports of entry
  
• tightening regulatory enforcement
  
• increasing surveillance of incoming passengers and cargo
  
• enhancing monitoring and surveillance of domestic livestock
  
• strengthening federal, state and industry coordination, and
  
• implementing public education campaigns.