USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has announced a proposed rule to allow fresh beef imports from Paraguay.
The agency determined that Paraguay can safely export fresh beef under certain circumstances, including not having been diagnosed with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the exporting region in the last 12 months, not having FMD present during the lifetime of any of the animals, and having animals inspected before and after slaughter, among other conditions.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) opposes the rule.
“USDA’s proposed rule to allow Paraguayan beef imports into the U.S. is based on 9-year-old data and site visits that occurred in 2008 and 2014,” said NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs Kent Bacus.
“Paraguay has a history of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and we cannot jeopardize the safety of U.S. consumers and the health of our U.S. cattle herd with outdated information.”
Comments may be submitted until May 26 at regulations.gov by searching for docket ID 2023-05889.
