June 14,2007

Baucus Applauds Malaysia for Opening Its Market to U.S. Beef

Finance Chairman calls on other countries to do the same

Washington, DC – Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Montana) today hailed Malaysia’s notification that it will open its market to all U.S. beef and beef products. This week’s announcement follows the unanimous ruling by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) on May 22 which certified that all U.S. beef and beef products are safe and healthy as long as specified risk materials are removed – a practice that U.S. beef processors already follow.

“I applaud Malaysia’s announcement that it will immediately accept all American beef - boneless, bone-in, and offals, regardless of age,” Baucus said. “The big winners are the rules-based international trading system and Malaysia’s consumers, who will now enjoy full access to the safest, healthiest, and tastiest beef in the world.”

Other countries continue to ban U.S. beef in defiance of the OIE’s decision. Korea, for example, maintains restrictions on U.S. bone-in beef, as well as all U.S. beef from cattle over 30 months. Japan bans all U.S. beef from cattle over 20 months. And China maintains a de facto ban on all U.S. beef.

Said Baucus, “It’s high time for Korea, Japan, China, and others to follow Malaysia’s lead. They must abide by sound science, international trade standards, and the demands of their own consumers, and lift their bans immediately.”

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