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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.

2 of 455 comments (clear)

  1. Re:The Constitution is a living document by jcr · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    The Constitution is a living document

    Nope, it's dead. It's been dead since the federal government decided that it no longer had to limit itself to the powers that the constitution grants it.

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  2. Re:The Constitution is a living document by cpu_fusion · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    If the purpose of the FDA's rule or order would not be a legitimate legislative purpose if enacted by Congress, than it is NULL and VOID. Unfortunately, the courts are putting SEPARATION of powers above CHECKS and balances, thus leaving us all to the tender mercies of politicians and bureaucrats.

    The only Answer is to VOTE OUT those pieces of shit, and their bosses who hire them and drop them onto us like urinal deuces.

    Ramen.