Published reports say that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has decided to continue testing about one thousand cattle a day for mad cow disease, despite original plans to cut back testing at the end of this year.
USDA Secretary Mike Johanns says that at this point in the process – two years after mad cow was first detected in the US - he does not want to change a policy that he believes has proven that US cattle is safe.
Analysts, however, suggest that there is another motive – a desire to not reduce testing at a time when Japan is considering the opening of its borders to US beef, which it has not allowed into the country since mad cow was first detected in the US.
USDA Secretary Mike Johanns says that at this point in the process – two years after mad cow was first detected in the US - he does not want to change a policy that he believes has proven that US cattle is safe.
Analysts, however, suggest that there is another motive – a desire to not reduce testing at a time when Japan is considering the opening of its borders to US beef, which it has not allowed into the country since mad cow was first detected in the US.
- KC's View:
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We agree with USDA on this one…though we would prefer an expansion of the current testing program.
But to cut back would be foolish.
