NCBA Thinks Grading Beef Imports May End

February 1, 2000

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says a U.S. government proposal could end the practice of giving imported beef the U.S. grade. USDA is seeking public comments on the issue of using the quality grade on imported meat.

NCBA petitioned USDA last summer to stop using the quality grade on imported beef carcasses. The fact that USDA now wants comments on the issue "is a strong step forward," said NCBA President George Swan. "The grading system was established to grade American grown, processed and chilled product and was not intended for product imported from foreign countries."

USDA now grades imported beef with the USDA quality grade just as if it was U.S. beef, and consumers never know the difference, NCBA says. "That’s a violation of the code of federal regulations that governs meat processing," says Swan.

"U.S. cattlemen have poured millions of dollars into developing brand identity for their beef," said Swan. "Imported beef essentially gets a free ride on the reputation we have developed for US. product."