One result of the recent meeting of the Five Nations Beef Conference was the formation of the Five Nations Beef Alliance. The meeting of the national producer associations of the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Mexico and Australia confirmed support for animal ID, vigilant quarantine approaches, and a science-based approach to managing animal welfare issues, reports farmonline.com.au/.

The report says the primary aim of the alliance is to increase consumer confidence in beef-product safety; it also will pursue trade reforms to increase access in Asia and the EU. The first chairman of the alliance is Bill Bray, Cattle Council of Australia president.

The Five Nations Beef Conference was established in 1983 and meets every 18 months. It includes officials of the Cattle Council of Australia, Canadian Cattlemen's Association, Confederacion Nacional Ganadera, Meat & Wool New Zealand, and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.
-- Joe Roybal