DeLauro: Move to Allow Poultry Imports from China an Outrage
DeLauro: Move to Allow Poultry Imports from China an Outrage
Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) today expressed outrage over the announcement that the U.S. will soon accept imports of processed poultry and poultry products from the People's Republic of China. Earlier today, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it will issue a final rule on the proposal, which will go into effect in 30 days. The U.S. has strong existing safeguards against products from countries with avian flu.
DeLauro is the ranking member of the House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee, with jurisdiction and oversight responsibilities of the USDA.
"It is an outrage that the U.S. is going to open our borders to imports of poultry from China - a country that lacks the fundamental safety functions in its processing plants, has questionable export practices, and a country where a deadly animal disease and possible pandemic is running rampant.
"While FSIS says that no chicken from China would find its way into these products, the U.S. will not have full-time inspectors at these facilities. When FSIS audited 6 of the 25 Chinese plants that are seeking to export these products to the U.S., they found problems such as a conveyor belt used for exposed edible products transfer had many deep cuts in it, paint flaking from the ceiling and landing on the table used for edible products, and residue from animal products on product contact areas. Products coming into this country will move through these facilities.
"In November, the media reported poultry from China and other Asian nations with active avian influenza outbreaks was illegally coming into the U.S. Although one hundred sixty-five thousand pounds of illegally smuggled Asian poultry was seized in a two month period last year, it is safe to say that many more pounds of illegal products exist within our borders.
"This rule is a risk to public health and it is dangerous policy making."
http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2006/April/china_poultry_4_20_06.html