Bill for Animal Disease Study Approved

April 10, 2001

A bill to commission a study of current and potential prevention measures for animal diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and foot and mouth disease (FMD) passed by unanimous consent in the Senate late last week. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Ben "Nighthorse" Campbell (R-CO) and amended by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), would require the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a report to both the Senate and House Agriculture Committees.

Within 30 days, coordinated interagency activities would begin to assess, prevent and control the spread of FMD and BSE; sources of information by the federal government available to the public regarding FMD and BSE; and any need for legislative authority, appropriations and/or product bans to prevent the introduction of the diseases into the United States would be considered.

Then, within 180 days, the study would involve the economic impact of FMD and BSE to the United States; potential risks to public and animal health from FMD, BSE and the variant Creuzfeldt-Jakob Disease, including domestic and imported livestock, animal products, wildlife and blood products.

Also recommendations would be considered to protect U.S. animal herds and citizens from those risks; analysis made of effectiveness of current preventative measures taken by the public, private and nonprofit sectors; descriptions included of any measures or plans to be taken by any federal agency regarding FMD, BSE and nvCJD; plans detailed to coordinate prevention and research efforts between federal agencies and in partnership with private sector; plans would be included for compensating for animals affected with BSE or FMD; and recommendations made for legislation and/or appropriations to prevent FMD, BSE and nvCJD.