AR-News: (US) Lawmakers pushes USDA on mad cow testing

[animalconcerns at fastmail.us]

WASHINGTON - A Kansas congressman tried Wednesday to punish the
Agriculture Department until it lets meatpackers test all their animals
for mad cow disease.

But Republican Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan., quickly abandoned the effort,
saying his purpose "was to catch their attention and get them to move
forward." He had proposed in an amendment to a spending bill to halt all
travel by Agriculture Department employees.

At issue is the desire by Creekstone Farms Premium Beef LLC to
voluntarily test all animals at its Arkansas City, Kan., facility to
inspire Japanese confidence in its beef.

The Kentucky-based company says customers in Japan, which banned imports
after mad cow disease was found in a Washington state Holstein in
December, will buy Creekstone's beef if the company tests all its
animals.

full story:
http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/8995581.htm

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