Meat + Poultry - May 2008 - 4

THE FRONT PAGE
FDA issues final rule on animal feed
WASHINGTON - A final regulation barring specified high-risk material from cattle
30 months of age and older from being included in animal feed was recently issued
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA said the final rule, which prohibits
brain material and spinal cords from being included in feed, further protects animals and consumers against bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
"This FDA action serves to further protect the U.S. cattle population from the
already low risk of BSE," said Dr. Bernadette Dunham, director of FDA's Center
for Veterinary Medicine. "The new rule
strengthens existing safeguards.''
These materials have the highest risk
for carrying the agent thought to cause
BSE. The entire carcass of cattle not
inspected and passed for human consumption is also prohibited, unless the
brains and spinal cords have been removed or the animals are less than 30
months old.
This regulation finalizes a proposed
rule the FDA issued for public comment
in October 2005. The final rule is effective for 12 months from today to allow the
livestock, meat, rendering and feed industries time to adapt their practices to comply with the new regulation.
Under the new requirements, renderers processing cattle not inspected and
passed for human consumption must provide FDA inspectors written protocols for
determining the age of cattle and demonstrating the brain and spinal cords of cattle
have been effectively removed.

Sanderson Farms
looks to N.C. for
new plant
LAUREL, MISS. - Sites in Kinston, N.C.,
were selected by Sanderson Farms Inc.
for building a new poultry processing
complex. The site will have the capacity
to process 1.25 million birds per week.
The complex is expected to cost Sanderson Farms $126.5 million and construction is scheduled to begin this summer.
The complex is slated to begin operating
in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.
"We believe this expansion will enhance our ability to drive revenues and
earnings, and allow us to continue our
record of building long-term value for
our shareholders," said Joe Sanderson
Jr., chairman and CEO. "We believe
the additional capacity of 1.25 million
birds per week represented by the new
complex will provide new marketing
opportunities for the company in the
fresh retail market. We are pleased
that our recent financial performance
has put us in a position to continue
to grow our company."

Trade groups push for no downer cattle
in food supply

NPPC asks Ag
Secretary for pork
producer assistance

WASHINGTON - The American Meat Institute, National Meat Association and the
National Milk Producers Federation jointly filed a Citizen Petition with the United
States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service requesting
the agency amend rules so that non-ambulatory, disabled cattle are not permitted
into the meat supply regardless of the circumstances.
The petition requests that 9 CFR 309.3 be amended to eliminate the provision
authorizing a public health veterinarian to allow certain cattle that become non-ambulatory after passing ante-mortem inspection to enter the food supply.
AMI and NMA pledged to encourage companies to engage in a voluntary moratorium regarding the slaughter and processing of non-ambulatory cattle until FSIS
issues a final rule affecting the requested change.
The petition references the benefits and efficiencies that can be gleaned from
eliminating the need to have a public-health veterinarian come out to re-examine
an animal that becomes non-ambulatory after passing ante-mortem inspection. Both
groups say the requested change also will benefit U.S trade negotiators as they attempt to re-open foreign markets to U.S. beef.
"Allowing the current rule to remain in force could ultimately undermine the confidence of U.S. consumers and foreign customers, in markets that are proving difficult
to reopen in the first place," said Patrick Boyle, AMI president and chief executive.

WASHINGTON - Officials with the
National Pork Producers Council met
recently with Agriculture Secretary Ed
Schafer to request that action be taken
to address the U.S. hog industry crisis
before it negatively impacts the U.S.
economy more significantly.
U.S. pork producers have lost more
than $2.1 billion over the past seven
months, they said. Due almost entirely
to a doubling in the cost of feed, hog
producers now are losing $30-$50 on
each hog marketed. NPPC President
Bryan Black suggested to Schafer that
the USDA purchase an additional 50.5
million lbs of pork for various federal food programs. This would reduce
the U.S. sow heard by nearly 163,600
animals.

MEAT&POULTRY

May 2008

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Meat + Poultry - May 2008

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