The following article is from the U.S. Meat Export Federation:
Dec. 23 marks the 10th anniversary of the United States’ first case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), an event that closed nearly all international markets for U.S. beef and had a profound impact on the U.S. industry. Although U.S. beef exports are expected set a new record this year (approaching $6 billion), the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) estimates the cumulative, 10-year loss in U.S. beef trade due to BSE to be at least $16 billion.
In this audio report, USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng discusses the effort required to restore access to most major markets and examines several destinations that are still closed to U.S. beef. Squarely at the top of this list is China, the fastest-growing beef market in the world. Other markets that never reopened to U.S. beef include Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Israel, Morocco, South Africa and Uruguay.
Saudi Arabia quickly reopened to U.S. beef in mid-2004, and became a $31 million market by 2011. But access was lost again due to the BSE case detected in California in April 2012, and this once-promising market remains closed today.
Despite the United States gaining the World Organization for Animal Health’s (OIE) lowest BSE risk classification (negligible risk), many markets still restrict the range of U.S. beef products allowed and limit the age of eligible cattle. Seng cites Mexico as one example, and says he hopes to regain full access to the Mexican market in 2014.
Source: U.S. Meat Export Federation
Posted by Haylie Shipp
