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“TDV has been instrumental in sharpening our focus, helping us
to resolve issues and achieve the results we expect.”
Peter Brackenridge, Vice President, Operations, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
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News |
| Thu. June 25, 09 - TDV in the News in Costa Rica |
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Country Puts itself in Order for Mad Cow
Canada helps to systematize data
Meat exporters will have systematic information on the measures implemented in the country to prevent the transmission of mad cow disease.
This will serve as a support for exporters and help break into markets that require such documentation when buying meat, such as Canada and others.
So far, Costa Rica has been free of the disease, but the National Service for Animal Health (SENASA) did not have an orderly process to keep track of the work being done on farms, slaughterhouses and by exporters for prevention.
Senasa is receiving technical assistance from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to determine the risk status for mad cow disease and demonstrate that that it does not exist. That status will be completed next September.
The idea is that Senasa organizes all the information it has collected in a disorderly manner through the years.
The work with Senasa is being done under the guidance of the Canadian company TDV Global, which was contracted by CIDA.
The consultant, Eleanor Toews, TDV Global, is in charge of the cooperation project and explained what they are doing.
How is the information being systematized?
We are working to develop systems that Senasa needs to review data related to the country’s risk status for mad cow disease.
“In international trade, countries are considered guilty of having this disease it is proven otherwise. It's developing all the risk management systems and completing an 11-page questionnaire, including figures on meat production in the last eight years, as well as imports.
To support the questionnaire, we have worked on a project management of specific risk materials [SRM] that are the eyes and spinal cord of cattle parts that transmit the disease. Here there is no mad cow disease, but country also does not have the systems to systematically confirm that the disease is not present.”
What is reviewed to verify that there is no risk?
We are reviewing how they feed cattle, because the disease is transmitted by food concentrates made with SRM. In addition, the project is reviewing what they do with these materials.
“We also assessed what has been imported to Costa Rica from countries with problems of mad cow disease in recent years. Senasa's statistics appear to indicate that there were no dangerous imports, but we had to go through all the documents to determine that, now they are systematized.
How does this help international trade?
To continue to export to United States primarily and as an extra tool to access other markets which require proof that the meat is not dangerous.
“The idea is that with this systematization Costa Rica can demonstrate at an international level that the system is equivalent to the importing country and will accept exports. It helps to facilitate and improve the food safety internationally and locally.”
Are you working with private enterprise?
In all the issues we are working with Corfoga (Livestock Development Corporation) with the idea of meeting with meat producers, abattoirs and auctions because each point has its risks. We are checking that the risk is low enough to be unimportant. This is prevention”.
Are you going to do other projects with Senasa?
Yes, we will develop a system of prerequisites for rural slaughterhouses improve conditions, production and their system of operation. This is to verify the safety of meat products.
“It is very important to have basic controls. The training will be conducted in June and 15 Senasa inspectors so they can go to the field, working together with owners of slaughterhouses and improve all levels.”
To read the original interview in Spanish, please click on this link El Financiero
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