Lincoln, NE ~ The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) said today it fully supports Creekstone Farms’ effort to restore its market access to Japan by testing 100% of the cattle the company slaughters for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Japanese exports are a vital part of the company’s business.

In February, Creekstone Farms announced that it intended to institute a 100% testing protocol, and petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) accordingly. USDA initially responded saying Creekstone did not have "the legal right to market" product as originating from cattle that have been privately tested and threatened criminal prosecution under the 1913 Virus Serum Toxin Act if Creekstone moved forward with its plan. Last week a USDA spokesman said the agency was still "looking at" Creekstone’s proposal.

Creekstone’s Chief Operating Officer Bill Fielding said the loss of the Japanese export market translates to a per head loss of $200, while total test costs on a per head basis would be $20. Test results are available in four hours. The move would make Creekstone Farms the first U.S. meat packer to offer a voluntary testing program. Tyson, Excel, Swift and National have resisted 100% testing.

Japan’s government implemented a 100% testing program of all domestic animals slaughtered for human consumption last year, and banned imports of U.S. beef in late December of 2003 when a Canadian Holstein cow located in Washington State was diagnosed with the brain wasting disease. The Japanese remain insistent that the U.S. implement an equally stringent surveillance program for any animals destined for Japan. On April 2, Japanese officials rebuffed a proposal from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman to name an international panel to "mitigate" the Japanese ban on U.S. beef saying the proposal was a departure from previous discussions.

"OCM completely supports Creekstone Farms in its effort to regain its Japanese beef business,” said Fred Stokes, OCM president. “Creekstone has developed a testing protocol that Japan accepts and could begin exporting immediately but for the roadblocks imposed by USDA. Here’s an independent company, which employs 700 workers and is a market outlet for cattle producers, which may be forced into failure by this absurd USDA position. One the one hand, USDA is hell-bent on opening the floodgates to beef from Canada and, in this action, slams shut the door to our best beef market. The Japanese clearly are not going to be bullied into submission. They want 100 percent testing and Creekstone is willing to provide it. Whatever happened to the notion that the customer was always right?” asked Stokes.

“USDA needs to quit carrying water for the big packers who want to force Japan to accept beef the way they offer it and do the right thing here. They need to approve Creekstone’s plan for testing, give them their export permits and allow the company to remain in business.”