| 10/9/2003 White House Reviews Proposal To Allow In Live Canadian Cattle - 10/7 Crop Decisions OMB, which lists the USDA proposed regulation on its Web site as docket No. 03-080-1, says it was submitted for review on Oct. 1. An OMB official said traditionally it has 90 days to review proposed new regulations, but stressed the agency "likes to review rules as quickly as we can." The rule proposal, which the USDA will publish in the Federal Register after OMB approval, is the first step in a process the USDA and U.S. industry officials expect to take several months. Much of that time will be to invite public feedback and then review submissions. The proposed rule, as written by the USDA, seeks to not only allow entry of Canadian live cattle under 30 months of age, but would also do away with the individual permits that Canadian exporters need for each shipment of boneless beef products. A U.S. government official said the USDA plan "proposes to codify what we've done by permit. So the (beef) we're allowing in through permit now will be included in the reg. The rule will include the (beef) already allowed in by permit." That, according to an industry source, would "eliminate the need to get a permit every time you turn around....It's going to eliminate some of the paperwork hassles." "It makes sense," the government source said. "If you're allowing in cattle, under the same circumstances, you'd allow a combination of products that those cattle would produce." However, OMB can ask that changes be made to new regulations that government agencies propose, according to an official there. One industry official suggested that the latest BSE discovery by Japan in a 23-month-old bull may affect deliberation over the USDA proposed rule because it assumes all cattle under 30 months of age cannot spread the disease. The 30-month standard for cattle is the cornerstone of the USDA's actions to slowly reopen its border to Canadian beef and live cattle. |
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