5/30/03

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1.  EQIP Rules Hurt Family Farmers and the Environment 
2.  Bush Steps Up Biotech Trade War 
3.  Mad Cows and Unhappy Dogs. 
4.  Got Urea In Your Milk?

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1.  EQIP RULES HURT FARMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT 

Last week Rural UPdates! reported that a coalition of environmental and family farm groups have charged that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is violating environmental law with the new rules released for the implementation of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. (EQIP).  In a recent publication by the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture, they assert the rules have also been crafted to subsidize agribusiness and will unfairly disadvantage family farmers. 

The Sustainable Ag Coalition's May 28 newsletter (Making Hay) stated the following: "The release of the EQIP rule confirms our worst fears that the EQIP program has been has been redesigned by NRCS to enable a program that should be focused on conservation to be used to promote and fund the industrial infrastructure of the largest scale, most polluting methods of agricultural production. The billions of EQIP dollars potentially available to subsidize these facilities could be used to drive thousands of other farmers and ranchers out of business and further concentrate U.S. food production."   Read the letter an alliance of groups sent to the NRCS.

2.  BUSH STEPS UP BIOTECH TRADE WAR 

The Bush administration announced earlier this month that it will formally challenge the European Union's temporary moratorium on genetically modified organisms as a "barrier to trade" at the World Trade Organization (WTO).  

The temporary moratorium had been placed by the EU after consistent polling showed that a majority of Europeans (and Americans) were concerned about the safety of GMO foods and want them to be segregated from non-GMO foods and labeled so that consumers have a choice.  Last week, President Bush attacked the moratorium linking it to starving Africans and world hunger. 

"European governments should join - not hinder - the great cause of ending hunger in Africa," said Bush. He continued saying, Europeans "have blocked all new biocrops because of unfounded, unscientific fears."   

European Union Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy Monday shot back blasting the U.S., claiming it is "unacceptable" for the U.S. to say that Europe is aggravating Africa's famine by refusing to accept GM crops.  

"We have a dispute with the Americans on GMOs," Lamay said, "and you can't use that as an argument that we're creating starvation in the Third World."  

3.  MAD COWS AND UNHAPPY DOGS 

Parts of the Canadian cow that recently tested positive for mad cow disease may have been used to make dry dog food that was shipped to the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said earlier this week. 

While there has been no scientific evidence so far that dogs can contract the disease or spread  it to humans, the FDA notified Pet Pantry International of Carson City, Nevada, when the agency learned from the Canadian government that Pet Pantry had received food that may have included material from the cow. 

The Canadian government prevented the cow being processed for human food and an FDA statement said, "Consumers can be assured that their food does not contain any remnants of the cow." 

The dog food company said Monday that customers should search for two products: "Maintenance Diet" with a "use by" date of "17 FEB 04" and "Beef with Barley" with a date of "05 MAR 04.  If found, the food should be held for pickup. 

The company's products are purchased by phone or e-mail and delivered by franchises to consumers' homes.  Customers who purchased dog food since February should check their supplies and, if found, should call the company at 1-800-381-7387.  Pet Pantry also is using sales records to contact consumers.  

4.  GOT UREA IN YOUR MILK? 

The Food and Drug Administration announced last week that it is amending the regulations for food additives to allow the use of the compound biuret in the feed of dairy cattle. 

The final rule comes in response to a request from ADM Alliance Nutrition, Inc. Biuret is a condensation product of urea, formed when two urea molecules combine. It provides an alternative non- protein nitrogen (NPN) source to urea. Until now, it has been prohibited for use as a feed additive in lactating dairy cows because it may show up in the milk. Animal waste containing biuret can also be toxic to crops if it is applied in high levels. 

Read the Federal Register notice of the rule, including an address for submitting written objections.