U.S. may rethink FMD policy

By Susan Falvella-Garraty

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. has accepted the European Union’s proposal to assess the current import ban because of foot-and-mouth disease on a regional basis.

Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman told reporters in Chicago on Monday that the ban will soon be lifted on meat from some EU countries. "There will probably be a regional lifting of the ban as opposed to an all-out lifting of the EU ban. I think that is the likelihood, although a final determination has not been made," she said.

In an interview on Tuesday, USDA spokesman Jim Brownlee said, "We have not made a final decision, but they are going to break it down country by country."

The ban on Irish meat importation may not benefit from this revised decision. Because of the positively identified cases of foot and mouth, both in the Republic and the North, it is likely the U.S. will keep the ban against meat importation.

In March, the U.S. banned all EU animals and raw meat products after foot-and-mouth disease with a few exceptions. There have been positive foot-and-mouth cases in Britain, France, the Netherlands as well as Ireland. The other 11 EU nations have not had any cases test positive. The disease is disastrous for farmers, but not harmful to humans.

"They’re feeling a sense of responsibility in wanting to do the right thing. Part of this is getting out the public message that this is a disease we want to keep out, and everybody has a part to play if they’ve been a traveler," Veneman said of the additional disinfecting process and baggage inspection international travelers now have to endure when entering the U.S.