FDA Increase Requirements for Disposal
US - Cattle disposal procedures will help reduce BSE but may increase price of production.
9 March 2009
1 minute read
A new U.S. Food and Drug Administration rendering regulation next month will affect ag producers’ ability to dispose of dead cattle and likely will drive up some beef processing costs, industry experts said.
Beginning April 27, rendering operations will be required to remove brains and spinal cords of all cattle older than 30 months if they intend to process the carcass for feed. The FDA regulation is intended to help reduce the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE, the so-called mad cow disease responsible for more than 150 human deaths worldwide in recent years. There are no confirmed cases of the disease associated with U.S. beef.
