New BSE Bill Would Limit Use of Salvaged Pet Food
Based on a Government Accountability Office report showing that
feed testing programs sometimes are too slow to prevent cattle
from eating contaminated feed, Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.)
in November introduced legislation to “strengthen the
firewalls against prion disease.”
If passed, Senate Bill 2002 would require the U.S. Department
of Agriculture to promulgate rules prohibiting the use of
salvaged pet food, plate waste, poultry litter, and blood
and blood products in animal feed for ruminants.
In addition:
- Any imported animal-derived food or feed product would
have to include the common name of the animal from which the
product is derived, whether it is from a ruminant, whether
the product contains any specified risk material, and the
country of origin of the ruminant.
- Imported products that do not contain animal-derived material,
such as some pet treats, for example, would be required to
bear a statement attesting that they contain no animal product.
- The USDA would be required to regulate the disposal, handling
and transportation of dead and nonambulatory animals on a
ranch or farm. All nonambulatory ruminants and ruminants exhibiting
signs of neurological disease when presented for slaughter
would be required to undergo rapid screening for prion disease.
Furthermore, any ruminant tested for BSE would be required
to be excluded from animal feed until the test is confirmed
to be negative.
The measure also would toughen enforcement actions under
existing feed regulations and provide for traceability of
ruminants within one year after the bill is enacted.
Lastly, a prion task force would be established to provide
Congress with updates on research and surveillance for prion
diseases.
The bill was referred to the Committee on Finance. [February
2006 PET AGE]
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