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USAHA News Alerts
1. CEM-Infected Stallion Confirmed in Texas [edited]
Texas Animal Health Commission Press Release
January 15, 2009
The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) reports that laboratory tests have confirmed that a stallion in Texas is infected with contagious equine metritis (CEM), a highly contagious venereal disease of horses.
The Texas-born quarter horse had spent the 2008 breeding season in Kentucky, where CEM was detected in a stallion during routine testing in mid-December As of January 15, a total of nine infected stallions have been detected: four in Kentucky, three in Indiana, and one each in Wisconsin and Texas. All of the infected stallions have epidemiological links to one or more CEM-infected equine during the 2007 or 2008 breeding season. State and federal authorities are continuing to seek the source of the infection.
At least 38 states are involved in a nationwide epidemiological investigation and testing of about 275 horses that may have been exposed to CEM through natural breeding or artificial insemination. The disease can be spread among stallions, if strict biosecurity measures are not maintained during the collection of semen.
Currently, the TAHC is working with accredited private veterinary practitioners to test another stallion and 21 mares with potential exposure to CEM. In some cases, CEM may cause infected mares to abort.
Additional national CEM information may be found on the USDA's web site at:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/hot_issues/cem/index.shtml
Full text:
http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/news/pr/2009/2009Jan_CEM_Confirmed.pdf
2. Spotlight on Swine Influenza Virus
Surveillance Program Could Benefit Pigs, People
ARS Healthy Animals Newsletter, #36
January 2009
Every year in the United States, hundreds of thousands of people get influenza. Mild cases can cause significant discomfort and severe cases can be fatal; influenza kills about 36,000 people in the United States annually.
Catching the flu is something pigs and people have in common. Every year, pigs around the world are infected by the nasty, but rarely fatal, swine influenza virus (SIV), and they have been known to pass it to humans with whom they share close and frequent contact. Humans, in turn, have been known to pass influenza to pigs.
The United States doesn't have an established SIV surveillance system, but that may change soon, thanks to a collaborative effort involving the Agricultural Research Service's (ARS) National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa. Scientists there are cooperating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to develop a national SIV surveillance pilot program. ARS and APHIS are part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
SIV is a contagious respiratory disease that affects pigs around the world. Before 1998, most SIV cases reported in the United States were caused by one strain of flu virus, but over the past decade, new strains-containing genetic material from human and avian influenza strains-have appeared with growing frequency. Today, U.S. herds are affected by many SIV strains, a situation that complicates vaccination efforts.
Full text:
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/ha/han36.htm
3. FDA Issues Final Guidance on Regulating Genetically Engineered Animals
FDA Press Release
January 15, 2009
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued a final guidance for industry on the regulation of genetically engineered (GE) animals under the new animal drug provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). The guidance, titled "The Regulation of Genetically Engineered Animals Containing Heritable rDNA Constructs," clarifies the FDA's statutory and regulatory authority, and provides recommendations to producers of GE animals to help them meet their obligations and responsibilities under the law.
Genetic engineering generally refers to the use of recombinant DNA (rDNA) techniques to introduce new characteristics or traits into an organism. When scientists splice together pieces of DNA and introduce a spliced DNA segment into an organism to give the organism new properties, it is called rDNA technology. The spliced piece of DNA is called the rDNA construct. A GE animal is one that contains an rDNA construct intended to give the animal new characteristics or traits.
"Genetic engineering is a cutting edge technology that holds substantial promise for improving the health and well being of people as well as animals. In this document, the agency has articulated a scientifically robust interpretation of statutory requirements," said Randall Lutter, Ph.D., deputy commissioner for policy. "This guidance will help the FDA efficiently review applications for products from GE animals to ensure their safety and efficacy."
[ For more information, see www.fda.gov/cvm/GEanimals.htm.]
Full text:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2009/NEW01944.html
4. Agriculture Committee Chair Peterson Announces Agriculture Committee Members
House Agriculture Committee Press Release
January 15, 2009
WASHINGTON - Agriculture Committee Chair Collin C. Peterson of Minnesota announced the Members of Congress selected to serve on the House Agriculture Committee for the 111th Congress today.
The House Democratic Steering Committee, including 11 freshmen Members and 17 returning Members, to serve on the House Agriculture Committee. The House Republican Conference has named 17 Republicans to serve on the Committee and has left one seat vacant.
"The Agriculture Committee is responsible for issues as varied as farm programs, commodity markets, nutrition, conservation, renewable energy, and rural development, so the diverse experiences of these Members will bring new ideas and energy to our work on these important issues," Chair Peterson said.
The 28 Democrats who will serve on the committee are:
. Chair Collin C. Peterson of Minnesota
. Representative Tim Holden of Pennsylvania
. Representative Mike McIntyre of North Carolina
. Representative Leonard L. Boswell of Iowa
. Representative Joe Baca of California
. Representative Dennis A. Cardoza of California
. Representative David Scott of Georgia
. Representative Jim Marshall of Georgia
. Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin of South Dakota
. Representative Henry Cuellar of Texas
. Representative Jim Costa of California
. Representative Brad Ellsworth of Indiana
. Representative Timothy J. Walz of Minnesota
. Representative Kirsten E. Gillibrand of New York
. Representative Steve Kagen of Wisconsin
. Representative Kurt Schrader of Oregon
. Representative Deborah L. Halvorson of Illinois
. Representative Kathleen A. Dahlkemper of Pennsylvania
. Representative Eric J. J. Massa of New York
. Representative Bobby Bright of Alabama
. Representative Betsy Markey of Colorado
. Representative Frank Kratovil, Jr. of Maryland
. Representative Mark H. Schauer of Michigan
. Representative Larry Kissell of North Carolina
. Representative John A. Boccieri of Ohio
. Representative Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota
. Representative Travis W. Childers of Mississippi
. Representative Walt Minnick of Idaho
The 17 Republicans (with one additional vacant seat) who will serve on the Committee are:
. Ranking Member Frank Lucas of Oklahoma
. Representative Bob Goodlatte of Virginia
. Representative Jerry Moran of Kansas
. Representative Timothy V. Johnson of Illinois
. Representative Sam Graves of Missouri
. Representative Mike Rogers of Alabama
. Representative Steve King of Iowa
. Representative Randy Neugebauer of Texas
. Representative Virginia Foxx of North Carolina
. Representative K. Michael Conaway of Texas
. Representative Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska
. Representative Jean Schmidt of Ohio
. Representative Adrian Smith of Nebraska
. Representative Robert E. Latta of Ohio
. Representative Phil Roe of Tennessee
. Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer of Missouri
. Representative Glenn W. Thompson of Pennsylvania
. one vacancy
The House Agriculture Committee has jurisdiction over a wide range of agriculture and rural development issues. These areas include renewable energy, disaster assistance, nutrition, crop insurance, conservation, international trade, futures market regulation, animal and plant health, agricultural research, bioterrorism, forestry, and others.
Congressman Peterson has served as chair of the Agriculture Committee since 2007.
Source: http://tinyurl.com/92e9mg
5. New Congress, Same Issues for Equine Industry
by: Edited Press Release [American Horse Council]
January 15, 2009 Article # 13452
The 111th Congress has convened and the Democrats have picked up seats in both the House and Senate. The country also has a new President, Barack Obama, who will take office Jan. 20, 2009. Many are wondering what these changes will mean for the horse industry.
"For the most part, issues affecting the horse industry are not partisan," noted American Horse Council (AHC) president Jay Hickey. "Like most industries, our legislative concerns don't clearly split along party lines. Democrats may approach issues from a different perspective than Republicans, and vice-versa, but the industry works on a bi-partisan basis with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle."
Nonetheless, since the Democrats now hold larger majorities in both houses, there could be less partisan "gridlock" that has prevented Congress from acting on legislation in the past. But the margins are not so great that the Democrats can simply push through whatever they want. They will still need some Republican support, particularly in the Senate, to pass legislation.
Tax issues and the state of the economy will have a starring role in the coming months. The inclusion of the Equine Equity Act in the farm bill that was passed in the last Congress was a victory for the horse industry. Beginning in 2009, all racehorses will be depreciated over three years, regardless of when they are placed in service.
Full text:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=13452
6. Report shows U.S. only half ready for flu pandemic
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor
Reuters
January 15, 2009
WASHINGTON - U.S. states have made progress in stockpiling drugs and preparing to vaccinate people in case of a flu pandemic but are far behind in plans for the ensuing months of disruption, the government said on Thursday.
The report from the U.S. Health and Human Services department showed most states responsible for maintaining food supply in an emergency were ready, but transportation plans had a long way to go. Experts said the economic crisis would only make things worse.
"It's mixed. I see the glass half full in the sense that the important issues are being addressed seriously by serious people," William Raub, who has been helping organize pandemic preparedness for HHS, told Reuters.
Most health experts agree that a pandemic of something, probably influenza, is inevitable and the U.S. government has been pushing states to develop preparedness plans.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/9sbky3
7. Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Beef, Pork, Lamb, Chicken, Goat Meat, Wild and Farm-Raised Fish and Shellfish, Perishable Agricultural Commodities, Peanuts, Pecans, Ginseng, and Macadamia Nuts
Federal Register: January 15, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 10)
Rules and Regulations
Page 2657-2707
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Parts 60 and 65
Docket No. AMS-LS-07-0081
RIN 0581-AC26
Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Beef, Pork, Lamb, Chicken, Goat Meat, Wild and Farm-Raised Fish and Shellfish, Perishable Agricultural Commodities, Peanuts, Pecans, Ginseng, and Macadamia Nuts
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill), the 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Act (2002 Appropriations), and the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (Act) to require
retailers to notify their customers of the country of origin of covered commodities. Covered commodities include muscle cuts of beef (including veal), lamb, chicken, goat, and pork; ground beef, ground lamb, ground chicken, ground goat, and ground pork; wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish; perishable agricultural commodities; macadamia nuts; pecans; ginseng; and peanuts. The implementation of mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) for all covered commodities, except wild and farm-
raised fish and shellfish, was delayed until September 30, 2008.
The 2008 Farm Bill contained a number of provisions that amended the COOL provisions in the Act. These changes included the addition of chicken, goat, macadamia nuts, pecans, and ginseng as covered
commodities, the addition of provisions for labeling products of multiple origins, as well as a number of other changes. However, the implementation date of September 30, 2008, was not changed by the 2008
Farm Bill. Therefore, in order to meet the September 30, 2008, implementation date and to provide the newly affected industries the opportunity to provide comments prior to issuing a final rule, on August 1, 2008, the Department published an interim final rule with a request for comments for all of the covered commodities other than wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish. The Agency is issuing this final rule for all covered commodities. This final rule contains definitions, the requirements for consumer notification and product marking, and the recordkeeping responsibilities of both retailers and suppliers for covered commodities.
DATES: This final rule is effective March 16, 2009.