WESTERN BUREAU:
BEEF FARMERS have chided the Government over its decision not to impose a general ban on beef imports claiming political expediency was guiding its decisions.
In response to earlier calls for a ban by farmers, Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke declared last weekend that Government would not impose a total ban on the importation of animal and animal products. But, this has not gone down well with members of the Beef Farmers Association of Jamaica (BFAJ).
According to at least one farmer, the decision not to discontinue the importation of meat and meat products is being made on the basis of the Government's political interests. The calls for the ban are being made against the background of outbreaks of Mad Cow and Foot-and-Mouth diseases primarily in the UK.
St. Ann beef farmer Ian Banks said the Government should rethink its position and institute a temporary ban on livestock products entering the island until a full assessment was made of the threats posed to the island from the outbreak of the diseases.
"The Ministry of Agriculture should take a good, hard and long look at protecting the country from the ravishes of the disease which will have a devastating effect on the livestock industry and there might be future restriction in travel," Mr. Banks warned.
He said the countries now affected by the diseases are developed nations with vast resources and even they are having problems in containing the disease.
"The decision not to ban especially animal products is based more on narrow political reasons without regard for the welfare of the small farmers and their families. It's a matter of the importation of cheap food that will affect the votes," charged one beef farmer who requested anonymity.
Head of the Ministry of Agriculture's Veterinary Service division, Dr. Headley Edwards, said while the government was concerned about the farmers' welfare, it would not be right to institute a total ban on products that would affect imports from countries that enjoy "disease-free status".
"Our response cannot be based on commercial interests but real concerns of for public health and food safety. Banning of products should be based on whether there is a potential risk and where there are not risk involve we cannot approve the total banning of that product," he said.
