U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop supports suspension of Brazilian beef imports
U.S. Department of Agriculture suspends imports over safety concerns
Staff Reports
ALBANY — U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Albany, said Monday he is supportive of the suspension of beef imports from Brazil until corrective action to ensure safety of the meat is taken.
“Food safety is a serious issue and is of the utmost importance,” Bishop said. “Although Brazil is a significant trading partner, the first priority should always be the safety of American consumers. I commend Secretary (Sonny) Perdue for taking decisive action to protect the integrity of our food supply.”
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, a former Georgia governor, announced Thursday the suspension of fresh beef from Brazil, citing concerns about the safety of products intended for the U.S. market.
“Ensuring the safety of our nation’s food supply is one of our critical missions, and it’s one we undertake with great seriousness,” Perdue said. “Although international trade is an important part of what we do at USDA, and Brazil has long been one of our partners, my first priority is to protect American consumers.
“That’s what we’ve done by halting the import of Brazilian fresh beef. I commend the work of USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service for painstakingly safeguarding the food we serve our families.”
Perdue said the suspension will remain in place until the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture takes corrective action that USDA finds to be satisfactory.
Perdue’s office said that since March, its Food Safety and Inspection Service has been inspecting 100 percent of all meat products arriving from Brazil. FSIS has refused entry to 11 percent of Brazilian fresh beef products, a figure that is substantially higher than the rejection rate of 1 percent of shipments from the rest of the world.
Since implementation of the increased inspection, USDA said, FSIS had refused entry to approximately 1.9 million pounds) of Brazilian beef products because of public health concerns, sanitary conditions and animal health issues. None of the rejected lots made it into the U.S. market, ag officials said.
Before the USDA action, the Brazilian government had pledged to address U.S. concerns, including suspending five facilities from shipping beef to the United States.
Related Articles
Dougherty Jail graduates first class of female GED recipients
“It was an escape. I can say this has been challenging. I want to express my gratitude for being able to attend this program.”
From cotton to cloud: In the data center debate, is rural Georgia once again being asked to carry the cost?
Across much of rural Georgia, the abandoned cotton warehouses and shrinking tax bases remain — enduring reminders that industries built to serve distant markets do not necessarily stay rooted in the communities that first sustained them.
Dawson Council approves $400,000 lifeline in emergency meeting as financial accountability remains elusive
Less than a week after city officials publicly acknowledged the City of Dawson cannot continue operating without additional financing, the Dawson City Council convened a hastily called emergency meeting Tuesday evening and unanimously approved authority to borrow up to $400,000 through a tax anticipation note.
