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IMMEDIATE RELEASE Gateway Beef Requests Permission to Perform Voluntary BSE Testing TRT: Cut #1 :21 National Farmers Union 04-30-04 Gateway Beef Requests Permission to Perform Voluntary BSE Testing Actualities: Russ Kremer, Member of the Gateway Beef Cooperative. Gateway Beef Cooperative, located in Overland, Missouri, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman April 30 requesting permission to perform voluntary testing for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, known as BSE, on all cattle slaughtered at their facility. Russ Kremer, a board member of the Gateway Beef Co-op, said he hopes USDA will consider the request….tape Cut #1 :21 O.C…… “do similar things.” Gateway Beef Cooperative provides a niche product that has captured the attention of major Japanese buyers who, before the BSE incident in Washington state, agreed to purchase beef from the co-op. Since the discovery of one BSE-infected cow in December 2003, Japan and 57 other countries have banned U.S. beef. However, Kremer explained that the Japanese buyers are willing to proceed with their earlier agreement if Gateway Beef can fulfill Japanese requirements of testing 100 percent of their cattle for BSE….tape Cut #2 :16 O.C…… “pay for it.” Kremer said USDA should not block opportunities for U.S. beef products when there is a willing buyer and a willing seller....tape Cut #3 :34 O.C…… “type of action.” ****************** For additional information or access to previous NFU audio reports, official statements, news releases, contacts, and general information, please visit www.nfu.org.
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