In 1995 the World Trade Organization Agreement on Agriculture was signed. The treaty did away with our "old fashioned" food safety system, a system that gave us the "safest food in the world." Here are examples of the "new improved" internationally based Food Safety regs in action after 12 years. It certainly has not reduced pathogens or hazards yet Rosa Delauro is pushing more of same in HR 875. HISTORY of HACCP (Pathogen Reduction/Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)
1993 Published: International HACCP guidelines developed by the Codex Alimentarius, a joint Programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO)and the World Health Organization (WHO). Revised in 1997. Click here.
1995 World Trade Organization (WTO) formed. Former Cargill Vice-President, Dan Amstutz, drafts the original text of the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture. Click here.
"Development of risk-based systems has been heavily influenced by the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures." OIE report Oct 2008 Click here.
September, 1995, USDA's Food Safety & Inspection Service presented a 600-page document, Farm-to-Table, seeking control of every step in the food chain from production to home preparation. Click here.
"Measures to trace animals...to provide assurances on...safety ..have been incorporated into international standards... The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures...Aims to ensure that governments DO NOT USE QUARANTINE AND FOOD SAFETY REQUIREMENTS as Unjustified trade barriers... It provides Member countries with a right to implement traceability {NAIS} as an SPS measure." Click here.
July 1996 Major re-structuring of USDA food policies: Pathogen Reduction/Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems rule, Click here.
Here are the results and why the Transnational corporations want NAIS so badly. Remember, by WTO rules if HACCP (an internationally approved scientific risk based system) and NAIS (traceability) are in place then importing countries CANNOT refuse to import without risking trade sanctions! With deliberation by a three judge panel held in complete secret and no appeal, WTO is in complete control -- not the importing nation.
Russia suspends three U.S. poultry plants due to drug residue By Meatingplace Editors on 3/20/2009. Russia has suspended imports from three U.S. poultry processing plants due to drug residue findings, possibly from antibiotics or anti-parasitics, a USDA spokeswoman said on Friday. Effective March 27, the following facilities are ineligible to export to Russia: Tyson Foods' plant in Cumming, Ga.; Peco Foods' plant in Canton, Miss.; and Sanderson Farms' plant in Hammond, La. USDA has requested and is awaiting additional information from Russian authorities, USDA spokeswoman Bryn Burkard told Meatingplace. "We will then work with the establishments to determine if in fact the antibiotics and anti-parasitics were used and will then take appropriate actions," Burkard said.Certificates can be signed for poultry originating from the three plants through March 26 but must by loaded on ships by that date, USDA said. In January, Russia suspended pork imports from nine U.S. pork processing plants and cold storage facilities, including some owned by Smithfield Foods, Smithfield's Farmland Foods unit and Cargill Meat Solutions, due to export certificate errors. In August 2008, Russia banned imports from 19 U.S. poultry plants, saying the facilities did not meet previously agreed upon standards.
Russia suspends nine U.S. pork plants
By Janie Gabbett 1/29/2009
Russia has suspended pork imports from nine U.S. pork processing plants and cold storage facilities, including some owned by Smithfield Foods, its Farmland Foods unit and Cargill Meat Solutions, according to USDA. USDA spokeswoman Amanda Eamich told Meatingplacethe plants were suspended due to export certificate errors. Codex international food standards suggest governments coordinate in these situations so that corrected certificates can be reissued. Russia, however, does not accept such replacement certificates, said Eamich. "We are working with the Russians to resolve this issue." Certificates can be signed for pork originating from these establishments through Feb. 9, but the product must also be loaded on a ship by that date. Effective Feb. 10, the following establishments are ineligible to export to the Russia:
Smithfield Packing plant in Tar Heel, N.C.
Farmland Foods plant in Milan, Mo.
Farmland Distribution in Crete, Neb.
Cargill Meat Solutions plant in Beardstown, Ill.
Cargill Meat Solutions plant in Ottumwa, Iowa
Cloverleaf Cold Storage in Cherokee, Iowa
Carolina Cold Storage in Tar Heel, N.C.
Millard Refrigerated Services in Edwardsville, Kan.
Berkshire Refrigerated Warehouse in Chicago
One Wall Street analyst called the suspensions, "Not good, but not a big deal," noting that less than 10 percent of U.S. pork exports went to Russia last year. Nevertheless, Smithfield's share price fell on the news, trading at $12.18, down 97 cents, in early afternoon trade on the New York Stock Exchange.
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