Stop the presses! At the last possible moment before going to press with this column, Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson announced changes to further strengthen the feed rule (see Newsline, page 8). It is too soon to weigh the overall impact of the changes – there are questions to ask to clarify certain points. But on first look, two things come to mind. First, it is a strong endorsement of the feed rule and that it is an effective firewall. Renderers have been recognized for the more than 99 percent compliance rate of the rule. Second, the changes recognize rendering as a solution to preventing the introduction and spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
The National Renderers Association (NRA) will be working closely with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as their respective interim rules are implemented to assure the interests of renderers are represented.
It all started as 2003 was winding down. Renderers, in general, were wrapping up a very successful year. On December 23rd, they were like everyone else – immersed in the holiday season. Then the evening news came on and we all saw how things could change so quickly. USDA Secretary Ann Veneman was on all the news shows announcing that a positive case of BSE was found in a Holstein cow in Washington.
The media made this announcement headline news for several days. The public was learning a lot about the cattle industry in 20-second sound bites.
USDA was quick to set up a briefing session the next day for both the media and industry representatives. Everyone was kept informed with almost daily briefings. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) was appropriately out front answering questions and informing the public about the safety and the raising of beef. Both the USDA and NCBA get high marks for the very professional and informative way they have responded to this situation.
The rendering business was highlighted in much of the news coverage. The cow was processed on December 9th with the meat going into commerce. The rest of the animal was rendered. In fact, the renderer contacted government officials to inform them that they still had meat and bone meal from the cow in their inventory. Government officials were quick to commend the renderer for their cooperation.
Frankly, there wasn’t much to do the first few days after the announcement but to let the investigation proceed. However, after the Christmas weekend, activity picked up considerably. It became apparent that renderers would be playing an important role.
Secretary Veneman announced on December 30th that all downer cows would be taken out of the food chain. This means that all cattle unable to make it off the truck under their own power are downers and are therefore condemned for food purposes.
The next day, the administrator of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) called me asking for an immediate meeting. With the announcement on downers, APHIS was faced with the tremen-dous challenge of finding other ways to continue the BSE surveillance program. They were seeking help from the rendering industry.
Downers are a high-risk group of cattle that APHIS drew most of its samples from for a surveillance program. The point of testing was at the slaughter facility. Since these animals are no longer destined to the slaughter facility, most people assume they will end up at the rendering plant.
The NRA has assured APHIS that the industry is willing to cooperate with them in securing samples for the BSE surveillance program. There were 20,000 animals tested in 2002 and in 2003. The goal for 2004 is 40,000 head.
This will not be an easy undertaking. There are many questions yet to be answered and logistics to be figured out. The discussions are just beginning. Producers are going to have to be an important player in any successful program to reach the 40,000 head goal of samples. But renderers have stepped up to the plate and expressed a willingness to be part of the solution.
I have been inundated with calls from the media, mostly inquiring about the rendering industry. I have mostly provided a “Rendering 101” discourse for them. This industry is not well known to most of society. So now with a case of BSE in the United States, we have become the subject of much interest. I must say that most of the reporters have been very fair and appreciative of the information we have provided them. The NRA Web site has been a valuable source of information to many.
Our Canadian members have also been very helpful to us by sharing their experiences of this past year since a single positive BSE case was announced on May 21, 2003, in Canada.
Food-related trade associations in the Washington area have called on us to learn more about rendering. We have a positive story to tell. I believe that the more people learn about our industry, the more they will appreciate us.
Congressional hearings have already been scheduled in several different committees to get a complete report on the situation. The USDA will be scrutinized for their actions to date and for what they plan to do in the future. The FDA will be called upon to testify, particularly on the feed rule and its other areas of jurisdiction in the food supply. NRA has been called upon to testify at many of these hearing and briefings. It is an opportunity for us to tell our positive story to many influential policy makers.
I am not naïve to think everyone will be friendly. There are those who want to impose additional and unnecessary regulations on the rendering industry. Unfortunately, we are dealing in a climate where science is no longer the most influential force in determining the outcome.
One thing is fairly certain – there is an effort to harmonize whatever decisions are made between Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
On another note, the leadership of the rendering industry met January 13th and 14th in Dallas, TX, to develop a long-range plan for the North American rendering industry. Over 40 renderers representing the American Protein Producers Industry, the Fats and Proteins Research Foundation, and the NRA attended this very important meeting. While scheduled long before December 23rd, the timing was very fortuitous. The plan is still under development. Input was sought from all members of the three organizations. There will be more to report on this endeavor in the next issue of Render.
From the Association - February 2004 Render