DeLauro Questions APHIS Officials Over Retesting of Infected Cow

DeLauro Questions APHIS Officials Over Retesting of Infected Cow

- IG Report finds agency officials overruled advice of field scientists -

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) today questioned the reasoning of officials at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) that overruled the advice of field scientists on the retesting of a domestic cow found to have the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) disease. After the USDA announced that the first case of BSE was identified in a native-born cow last June, officials at APHIS said no further testing of the animal was needed. The USDA's inspector general, however, determined the testing used proved inconclusive results and said that a sample from the cow should be sent for further testing.

DeLauro is ranking member of the House Appropriations Agriculture subcommittee, which has jurisdiction and oversight responsibilities of USDA and FDA.

"I am concerned that the APHIS officials that reviewed these results seemed to make decisions based not on science, but on the economic ramifications a positive BSE finding in a domestic born animal could have on the U.S. economy," said DeLauro. "When consumer safety is in question, APHIS should not be forced into additional testing of an inconclusive sample by its inspector general.

"While we are glad that this cow did not enter the human food supply, APHIS officials had a responsibility to further examine this sample that even our "gold standard" test proved inconclusive. By refusing to send samples for further testing, APHIS could have jeopardized consumer health and safety and put the industry at a disadvantage, drawing into question the safety of our beef.

"Today I am requesting that APHIS disclose which officials made this decision and further explain their reasoning for not voluntarily testing this inconclusive sample further."

http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2006/February/APHIS_retesting_2_3_06.html