In a notable development, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture has endorsed the importation of raw beef from Paraguay, a decision contingent on strict adherence to inspection protocols. Paraguay exports must comply with the FSIS’s rigorous standards, verified through inspection certificates issued by Paraguay’s Central Competent Authority (CCA). This authorization has not been without its detractors. Senators Mike Rounds and Jon Tester have initiated a Congressional Review Act resolution, aiming to counter the Biden administration’s earlier approval of these imports. Additionally, a collective of House Representatives has registered their opposition in a communication to Tom Vilsack, the Agriculture Secretary. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) had previously, in November, detailed the criteria for these imports in a final rule. This rule, proposed initially in March, was predicated on APHIS’s confidence in Paraguay’s emergency response capabilities for potential disease outbreaks. This development signifies Paraguay’s re-entry into the U.S. beef market after a hiatus since 1997, following previous concerns about foot-and-mouth disease and other animal health issues.
