CONTENTS Leahy, Hon. Patrick J., a U.S. Senator from Vermont, opening statement__ Page 1 Hodges, Hon. Kaneaster, Jr., a U.S. Senator from Arkansas. Foreman, Hon. Carol Tucker, Assistant Secretary for Food and Consumer Services, accompanied by: Dr. Hyman Steinmetz, Director, Foreign Programs, Food Safety and Quality Service; Dr. Donald L. Houston, Acting Deputy Administrator, meat and poultry inspection program, Food Safety and Quality Service; and Dr. Grace Clark, staff officer, Food Safety and Quality Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture__ Johnson, Reuben L., director of legislative services, National Farmers Union, accompanied by Robert J. Mullins, associate__ Cook, Tom, associate director, policy development, National Cattlemen's 56 USDA INSPECTION OF FOREIGN MEAT PROCESSING PLANTS THURSDAY, JULY 27, 1978 U.S. SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 a.m., in room 324, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. Patrick J. Leahy (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Senators Leahy, Allen, and Young. Also present: Senators Zorinsky, Melcher, and Hodges. STATEMENT OF HON. PATRICK J. LEAHY, A U.S. SENATOR FROM VERMONT Senator LEAHY. Good morning. The Subcommittee on Agricultural Research and General Legislation of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry will come to order. I am Patrick Leahy, chairman of the subcommittee. These hearings were requested by Senator Melcher in relation to S. 2343, a bill that has been introduced by Senator Melcher and cosponsored by a number of Members of the Senate and a number of members of this committee. I will begin the hearing-because it is a matter that I am interested in-but I intend early on in the hearing to turn the Chair over to Senator Melcher. Senator Melcher, of course, has had far more experience in this area than I, both from his past experience in the House and from his own intimate knowledge of the area; also his experience in the Senate and his own experiences as the only veterinarian in the Senate and, I believe, in Congress. Is that not right, John? Senator MELCHER. That is true. Senator LEAHY. At this point I will insert a copy of S. 2343 and the committee staff explanation of the bill. [S. 2343 and the committee explanation follows:] [S. 2343, 95th Cong., 1st sess.] A BILL To insure the quality of imported meat. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 20 of the Federal Meat Inspec tion Act (21 U.S.C. 620) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection (f): "(f) The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate not later than January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 of each year a report evidencing that all foreign plants exporting carcasses or meat or meat products referred to in subsection (a) of this section have been inspected by qualified inspectors appointed by the Secretary and have been found to have complied with requirements at least equal to all the inspection, building construction standards, and all other provisions of the title and regulations issued thereunder during the immediately preceding three-month period.". SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY STAFF EXPLANATION OF S. 2343 S. 2343 would amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to require the Secretary of Agriculture to submit quarterly reports to the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry showing that all foreign plants exporting carcasses or meat or meat food products into the United States have been inspected by qualified inspectors appointed by the Secretary and have been found to have complied with requirements at least equal to all the inspection, building construction standards, and other provisions of the Act and regulations applicable to meat processing in the United States during the immediately preceding three-month period. The reports would be submitted before January 2, April 2, July 2, and October 2 of each year. NOTE: Under existing law, only those countries that have meat inspection systems with standards at least equal to those of the United States inspection program are permitted to ship meat into the United States. Before March 2 of each year, the Secretary must submit a report to the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry containing, among other items, a certification by the Secretary that foreign plants exporting carcasses or meat or meat food products have complied with requirements at least equal to all the inspection, building construction standards, and other provisions of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the regulations issued thereunder. Senator LEAHY. So the first witnesses we have before us today is Senator Kaneaster Hodges, of Arkansas, a member of this committee. Senator Hodges? STATEMENT OF HON. KANEASTER HODGES, JR., A U.S. SENATOR FROM ARKANSAS Senator HODGES. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I would like to speak briefly in favor of S. 2343, a bill to insure the quality of imported meat. The long list of cosponsors of this bill speaks well of its merits and of Senator Melcher's efforts on its behalf. I would like to offer my own support and intend to join that list of cosponsors. S. 2343 would amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to require quarterly reports from the Secretary of Agriculture, evidencing that all foreign plants exporting meat to the United States have been inspected and found to comply with standards at least equal to those imposed on our own meat packers and processors. Although a minimal reporting requirement is specified in the Meat Inspection Act, the amendment quite clearly lays out a schedule of reports and inspections, assures that all foreign plants are up to standard, and leaves little doubt that virtually all imported meat is of a quality and standard at least equal to that of domestically processed meat. Perhaps most importantly, passage of this bill would be some small sign to the cattle, hog, and sheep producers of this country that the Congress remains committed to their well-being. Cattle producers were severely shocked by the announcement that beef imports would be increased at a time when many of them were making money for the first time in 4 years. It seems little enough to ask that if our meat producers are required to compete with foreign meat, they should receive the clearest assurances that imported meat has imposed on it the same standards of sanitation and quality that their meat products face. Some may argue that this legislation may amount to a so-called "nontariff" trade barrier. It is no such thing. The standards that have been developed for our own processors originated in concern for the health of domestic consumers of meat. That same concern is being demonstrated in the inspection requirements included in this bill. I strongly support S. 2343, and urge its passage. In addition to the prepared statement, I would simply say that as a cattle producer myself, in an area that produces a good deal of beef cattle, the variance between the standards undergone by our own domestic producers and those of imported beef, have rankled for a long time on many of the people in the cattle industry. This of course does not address just the broader procedure but does speak more specifically to periodic and regular inspections, and I think addresses the sort of controls that insure that we have fairness and equality to all. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate very much this opportunity. If there are any questions, I will be happy to respond to them, by yourself or any other committee members on this subject only. And if not, then I will be about my business. Senator LEAHY. Senator Melcher? Senator MELCHER. Kaneaster, would you-we have got a rather simple bill; but would you be of the thinking that the proper inspection of a foreign plant would include some system, some systematic determination whether harmful chemicals or residues were present in the meat? Senator HODGES. Absolutely. And I do not think you can do that unless you do inspect on a periodic, regular basis. I know those inspections are made on all processing plants in Arkansas, both by the State and Federal inpections. And it is so important in terms of meat produced in this country, that it seems inconceivable that we would not apply those same strict, vigorous standards abroad, including the area you just mentioned. Senator MELCHER. I was visiting with a constituent of yours in a meeting at Dallas a couple of weeks ago. He got into this subject and he mentioned that benzine hexachloride was available, and labeledif I understood him correctly-in Mexico, to apply to cattle at stronger strengths than I have ever conceived. He was amazed, too. He is also a veterinarian and had used benzine hexachloride years ago in the 1950's when it was labeled and accepted. I wondered at times, then, whether we were doing the right thing in the case of benzine hexachloride. It almost can be absorbed right through your hide. I have eaten some meat that was very nice otherwise, but it tasted like benzine hexachloride. The application was a rather moderate con |