DLNR tightens monitoring of meat imports • Move prompted by reports on spread of mad cow disease in neighboring countries

Quarantine officials have been asked to remain vigilant on the possible entry of meat coming from countries other than the mainland US, especially from areas hit by the mad cow disease.

Lands and Natural Resources Special Assistant for Correspondences Marianne Teregeyo said quarantine officers stationed at various Commonwealth airports and seaports were advised to strictly enforce existing procedures due to reports of mad cow contamination cases in several European countries.

This, even as the CNMI restricts the entry of meats from Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines and countries other than the mainland US.

Ms. Teregeyo disclosed the CNMI only accepts locally produced cow meats and those from the United States. These meats, she added, have to pass local and federal quarantine standards.

Fresh and frozen meats that are currently sold in local markets are guaranteed to meet the standards set by the US Department of Agriculture since these are primarily sourced locally and from the mainland.

Quarantine officers have been specifically instructed to look for the USDA stamp on CNMI-bound foreign meats. Without this, the produce would be sent back to its area of origin.

Ms. Teregeyo explained that local residents should not be alarmed on the reports of mad cow disease since the department is strictly enforcing its quarantine measures to prevent outbreak of any disease in the NMI.

“This is not a big problem, even without the mad cow disease, DLNR inspectors are on the look-out, and our meats came from local farmers and United States. If the meats are locally produced they would have to pass through the DLNR accredited slaughter house and pass the requirement,” Ms. Teregeyo said.

Reports of mad cow disease spread like wildfire after several establishments in Europe incurred daily losses. Recent reports claimed the disease has already reached Australia and several Asian countries.

Across Europe, chicken sales have skyrocketed, while beef sales have dropped as much as 80 percent. In Germany, organic farmers are hoping for a boom as the government pushes for environmentally conscious Germans to realize that safety and quality come at a price.

Production has dropped from 6,000 tons a year to negligible amounts and at least 62 full-time workers and 30 part-time workers are likely to lose their jobs..

Koenecke is the first factory known to have closed because of mad cow, and there are no total figures for closures nationwide. But unions and industry associations warn more shutdowns won’t be far behind.

Job losses from mad cow could reach 40,000, unions say, and 1,000 seasonal jobs have already been cut nationwide. Another 4,000 workers are on reduced shifts and pay, with 1,000 more waiting to have their hours cut.