Appeals Court Rules US Can Block Mad Cow Testing

fahrbot-bot tips a story of mad cow disease, a private meat packer that wants to test all of its beef for the disease, and the USDA, which controls access to the test kits and just won an appeals court ruling that the government has the authority to block testing above and beyond the 1% the agency performs. Creekstone Farms Premium Beef sought to test 100% of its beef, in order to reassure its export markets, especially Japan and South Korea, that its beef is safe. Large meat packers opposed any such private testing, because they feared they would be forced into 100% testing and would have to raise prices. The appeals court ruled, 2 to 1, that under a 1913 law, test kits that are used only after an animal is killed still constitute "diagnosis" and "treatment" — this for a disease that has no treatment and is 100% fatal — and therefore fall under the USDA's authority to regulate.

Comments

Re:And Businesses are Greedy

[Darkness404]

But the lawyers don't have to take the case. They can say "No, that's stupid" and move on. Saying lawyers aren't responsible is like saying that drug dealers aren't responsible for drugs getting into the hands of kids, its really just the kids fault.

Re:This really isn't the sensible thing to

[Foobar of Borg]

We know that BSE is out of control in American herds, and that's besides the fact that the food is pumped full of growth hormones to such extents that young girls eating it develop breasts at very young ages.

Ah yes. More disease, death and destruction brought to you by our good friends at Monsanto. When the Four Horsemen get riding, they will have the Monsanto corporate logo on their flags.

Or, to modify Bill Hicks a little: "By the way, if there is anyone here who works for Monsanto - kill yourselves. There is no excuse for what you do. You are fucked and you are fucking us. Kill yourselves."