June
2 , 2004
Number 53, Volume 2
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Progress Foundation, and People
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1. USDA REVERSES CHANGES TO ORGANIC STANDARDS
In
last week’s edition (see item #4), we covered several changes made
by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to the National Organics Program
last April, including allowing the use of antibiotics on dairy cows and
non-organic fish meal for cows and calves raised for beef. Due to outcry
from the public and from members of the National Organics Standards Board,
on May 28 Department Secretary Ann Veneman rescinded the changes announced
in April by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). An AMS
administrator has said that the issue is not closed, however, and that
she will be making a presentation to the standards board, which was formed
in 1992 to help USDA develop the national organic standards.
“Battle over Organic Standards Continues,” LA Times, Corie
Brown, June 2, 2004
http://tinyurl.com/3bwhc
(LA Times website)
“USDA Takes Back Organic Standard Changes,” MeatingPlace.com,
Eric Hanson, May 28, 2004
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/pop.asp?ID=12435
2. ANIMAL AGRICULTURE INDUSTRIES SUPPORT VOLUNTARY COOL PROGRAM
In
a move to preempt country-of-origin labeling (COOL) required by the 2002
Farm Bill, industry groups are supporting a proposal to implement a voluntary
version of the program. In January, President Bush pushed back the mandatory
federal requirement until late 2006, due in large part to pressure from
industry groups who feel the cost burden of labeling is too high. The
voluntary program would put labeling in the hands of producers rather
than federal regulators. Specifically, the proposal would limit the required
record-keeping, allow flexibility in labeling and packaging, and would
recognize existing labeling programs. The voluntary proposal is supported
by several industry groups, including the Meat Institute, National Meat
Association, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, and National Pork
Producers Council.
“Industry Groups Unite over Voluntary COOL,” MeatingPlace.com,
Eric Hanson, May 26, 2004
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/pop.asp?ID=12415
“NPPC, Other Organizations Support Voluntary COOL,” Pork News,
May 30, 2004
http://www.porkmag.com/news_editorial.asp?pgID=675&ed_id=2713
3. SOUTH CHINA SEA ANIMAL AGRICULTURE POLLUTION STUDY
China
is home to more than half of the world’s pigs and more than a third
of the world’s chicken population, and most of the waste from these
animals ends up in the South China Sea. As a result, several international
organizations have launched a program to study the impact of such pollution
and methods of mitigating the damage. The baseline study will include
Thailand, Vietnam, and the Chinese province of Guangdong. According to
the United Nations and the Global Environmental Facility, agricultural
waste is the second largest (land-based) contributor to global marine
pollution
“Project to Study South China Sea Pollution Launched,” ABS-CBN
News, June 1, 2004
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?section=SCIENCE&oid=52202
4. AVIAN INFLUENZA IN TEXAS, AGAIN
In
the second outbreak of Avian Influenza in Texas in less than four months,
the disease was discovered among breeder chickens in a flock in the eastern
part of the state, during routine testing. As a result, 24,000 birds have
been killed on a farm that supplies Pilgrim’s Pride, the second
largest slaughterer of chickens in the country. Also due to the outbreak,
Mexico has banned all chicken imports from the state of Texas until it
is demonstrated that the most recent flu variant is the low pathogenic
form of the disease. Following the initial Texas outbreak in February,
Mexico banned all chicken imports from the US, later limiting the ban
to certain states and counties. Mexico is the fourth largest importer
of chicken products from the US.
“Thousands of Chickens Destroyed in Texas Bird Flu Scare,”
Channel News Asia, May 30, 2004
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/americas/view/87559/1/.html
“Mexico Bans Texas Poultry over Bird Flu Threat,” Reuters,
June 01, 2004 http://203.210.108.22/avantgo/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=25331
ALSO SEE: Pilgrim’s Pride Press Release, May 28, 2004
http://tinyurl.com/2jfx7 (Thompson
Financial News website)
5. BSE: USDA CONDUCTS NATIONAL TESTS; BIOENGINEERED COW WILL BE IMMUNE
In
partial response to the debate over 100% testing for Bovine Spongiform
Encephalopathy (BSE or “mad cow disease”), the US Department
of Agriculture (USDA) initiated a program on June 1 to test at least 220,000
cows throughout the country. The $70 million program is a one-time, intensive
study that will last 12-18 months and will estimate the prevalence of
BSE in the US. The number of cows to be tested is more than 10 times the
number tested in 2003, but is still less than 1% of the annual US slaughter
of about 35 million cows. Other efforts to combat BSE are currently being
explored by industry scientists, including genetically engineering cows
to be immune to BSE. Two companies, Kirin Brewery of Japan and Hematech
of the US, have together altered a cow embryo by removing the prion (malformed
protein) that is believed to lead to BSE. The cow, which is due to be
born early next year, will be used exclusively for research purposes to
develop medicines, according to company scientists.
“USDA Plans Mad Cow Tests Nationwide,” Washington Post, May
31, 2004
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4754-2004May31.html
“Scientists Claim BSE-immune Cow,” BBC News, May 31, 2004
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/sci/tech/3764233.stm
“No Need to Fight: Farmers and Activists Can Find Common Ground
on Gestation Crates,” The Humane Society of the United States
Abstract: HSUS article discusses the current and future use of gestation
crates and legislative efforts to ban them.
http://www.hsus.org/ace/20806
University of British Columbia’s Animal Welfare Program
Abstract: UBC website provides a number of references to and source documents
for research relating to farmed animal welfare and husbandry. (Thanks
to Bruce Friedrich for sending this link)
http://www.agsci.ubc.ca/animalwelfare/
“FSIS Revises Recall Directive,” MeatingPlace.com, Brendan
O'Neill, May 31, 2004
Abstract: The US Food Safety and Inspection Service recently updated its
protocols for handling food recalls.
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/pop.asp?ID=12447
“Researchers Look At Factors Affecting Cow Longevity,” Cow-Calf
Weekly, May 28, 2004
Abstract: Scientists find that “heavier-milking” dairy cows
expend their energy reserves, making them less likely to breed.
http://tinyurl.com/ysomx (Cow-Calf
Weekly website)
“Is Agribusiness Making Food Less Nutritious?” Mother Earth
News, Cheryl Long and Lynn Keiley,
Abstract: Authors argue that the concentration of agriculture is eroding
the nutritional value of food; focus is on vegetables, but also addresses
dairy and eggs.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/index.php?page=article&id=2132&ref=email
CONTENTS
- USDA Reverses Changes to Organic Standards
- Animal Agriculture Industries Support Voluntary COOL Program
- South China Sea Animal Agriculture Pollution
Study
- Avian Influenza in Texas, Again
- BSE: USDA Conducts National Tests; Bioengineered Cow will be Immune
- Other Items of Interest
RESOURCES
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