‘Gold standard outcomes’ for beef are called as part of TPP talks

By Georgi Gyton

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Codex alimentarius Beef Cowboy

The Alliance admitted two associations - from Paraguay and Brazil - as observers to its meeting
The Alliance admitted two associations - from Paraguay and Brazil - as observers to its meeting
The Five Nations Beef Alliance (FNBA) unanimously endorsed a public statement calling for all Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) nations to support ‘gold standard outcomes’ for beef, during its annual meeting.

It said its overarching priority was that TPP members did not compromise on the high level of ambition envisaged by TPP Leaders in 2011.

Hosted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the meeting in Texas, earlier this month, saw industry leaders from the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand, come together to discuss the key issues affecting their industry.

The members of the Alliance also took part in a study tour around south Texas, visiting several value chain operations, including McFaddin Enterprises – a fifth-generation ranch operated by NCBA president Bob McCan; King Ranch; and Graham Land & Cattle – a 30,000 head feedlot. The tour also took in a visit to HEB, a retail partner which offers a wide variety of beef cuts to consumers.

McCan said: "During the course of the week, we formed working relationships that cross political boundaries and it’s those relationships that will benefit our producers in the USA as we work together to find common ground in the future."

He said that science-based trade standards are something that would benefit the global beef industry "and if we can agree to place that ambition above political expediency, cattlemen and women in each of the five nations will be better served".

Forrest Roberts, chief executive officer of NCBA and chair of the FNBA meeting, added: "The message we are sending to TPP negotiators who are meeting in Australia is that beef producers in the five nations stand united in seeking better trade treatment of the high-quality beef they produce.

"To that end, the member nations also agreed to increase efforts to keep the Codex Alimentarius, World Organization for Animal Health and other international scientific groups as objective bodies free from political influence."

Andrew Ogilvie, president, Cattle Council of Australia, commented: "Being in Texas was particularly interesting for Australian producers as there have been a number of comparable circumstances shared between the USA and Australia in recent years, including drought conditions which have driven down cattle prices and depleted the cow herd."

The Alliance has also admitted to additional associations as "observers"​ for the following year – from Paraguay, the Asociación Rural de Paraguay, and from Brazil, Associação dos Criadores de Mato Grosso.

The group currently comprises the Cattle Council of Australia, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Confederación Nacional de Organizaciones Ganaderas, Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the NCBA.

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