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USCA calls for stop to Namibian beef imports

The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association has sounded an alarm calling for the U.S. to stop importing beef from the southern African country of Namibia because of reports of recent Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks there.

While imports from southern Namibia from the so-called FMD free zone are allowed – as determined by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) – the cattlemen’s group says vaccination is not practiced there. It says the region’s African buffalo populations are considered to be persistent carriers of FMD.

The group says Congress needs to employ its oversight role of the USDA the agency’s “pursuit of importing beef products from countries known to be infected with FMD.” They also say the Senate needs to swiftly confirm Tom Vilsack as USDA Secretary to address the issue.