WASHINGTON – Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) continued their push to suspend beef imports from Paraguay to the United States by filing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution.

This move would overturn the Biden administration’s recent decision to lift the ban on beef imports from Paraguay. A CRA resolution is an oversight tool Congress may use to overturn final rules issued by federal agencies by a simple majority vote.

“South Dakota farmers and ranchers work tirelessly to produce the safest, highest quality and most affordable beef in the world,” Rounds said. “Paraguay, on the other hand, has historically struggled to contain outbreaks of foot and mouth disease. Consumers across America should be able to confidently feed their families beef that they know has met the rigorous standards required in the United States.”

Tester also explained why he believed this CRA was necessary for Montana and American ranchers.

“My message to the Biden administration is simple: cutting corners to resume beef imports from a country with a recent history of foot and mouth disease is bad news for both Montana consumers and producers, and I won’t let it stand,” Tester said. “Montana ranchers produce the best beef in the world, and it’s clear that the USDA doesn’t have the data to show that Paraguay meets the same animal health standards.”

Rounds and Tester decided to propose the CRA after the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) confirmed Paraguay’s eligibility to import raw beef products into the United States in December 2023.

The lawmakers also said it had support for the CRA from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA), R-CALF USA, Livestock Marketing Association and the National Farmers Union.

“USDA’s decision to allow Paraguayan beef imports into the US creates an unnecessary risk to the health and safety of the US cattle herd,” said Kent Bacus, executive director of government affairs for National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). “US cattle producers are held to the highest food safety and animal health standards in the world and any trade partner must be able to demonstrate they can meet those same standards. Given Paraguay’s long history of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks, it is simply too risky to allow Paraguayan imports without recent site visits to confirm Paraguay’s safety claims.”

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published a final rule detailing Paraguayan beef imports in November 2023. The rule was initially proposed last March after the agency determined that Paraguay demonstrated the emergency preparedness and response needed to control a potential outbreak.

According to the FSIS, Paraguay will enter the US market for the first time since 1997.