For Immediate Release

CONTACT:     Joe Schuele, (303) 850-3360
                              or mobile (720) 987- 4783
                              jschuele@beef.org 
                        Karen Batra, (202) 347-0228
                             kbatra@beef.org                      

               NCBA Statement on U.S. Court of Appeals Decision  

Jim McAdams
Adkins, Texas cattle producer and President, NCBA

 July 14, 2005

DENVER — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit today has overturned a lower court's ruling banning imports of Canadian cattle. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is pleased that the 9th Circuit Court agreed with the science: beef is safe from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). U.S. Cattlemen are best served when international trade is based on science and we expect our trading partners to follow the science that BSE does not pose a public health or food safety risk.