The International Beef Alliance (IBA) works to exceed global consumers’ expectations in respect of beef, while eliminating non-scientific and political trade restrictions.
All members of the IBA are aligned to the following specific principles.
The IBA will continue to advocate in favor of further liberalization as a key priority in multilateral and plurilateral negotiations. The IBA unequivocally supports expanded market access via the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers, the elimination of all export subsidies and substantial reductions in domestic support.
We encourage countries to recommit to meaningful multilateral trade negotiations under the World Trade Organization. The IBA promotes adherence to international regulatory standards, achieving equivalent outcomes, mutual recognition of standards and best practice codes and alignment of domestic and international standards.
The IBA urges all beef importing countries and international standard setting bodies to ensure that sound science remains the only basis for establishing and implementing Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) trade rules and requirements.
With respect to BSE, the IBA calls on all countries to implement international OIE guidelines enabling trade in cattle, genetic material, beef and beef products to occur without interruptions on nonscientifically based criteria.
Recognizing the dangers of the spread of livestock disease for the beef industry, the IBA urges all governments and quarantine authorities to remain vigilant in preventing the introduction and spread of animal diseases and threats from pests. The IBA reaffirms that all such measures must be implemented to the extent justified by science-based risk assessments and recommended by international OIE guidelines.
The IBA recognizes the desire of consumers to understand more about the food they eat and supports the use of voluntary country of origin labeling (COOL}. Where guidelines for COOL are desirable they should be developed in such a way as to avoid unnecessary cost and not be trade restrictive.
The international principle of substantial transformation to convey origin needs to be respected.
The IBA supports the ongoing development of animal identification systems that facilitate the eradication of animal disease and management of animal health concerns in the beef industry. Each member of the IBA, along with each producing nation around the world, is urged to move forward with systems that deliver pragmatic and effective tracking and tracing capabilities which provide confidence to beef consumers.
The IBA defines its role in advancing global efforts to enhance the sustainability of beef production systems as a journey requiring a commitment to continuous improvement. The IBA takes a noncompetitive, holistic and balanced approach to sustainability by focusing equally on three aspects of beef production systems: environmental, social and economic.
The IBA believes that cattle producers are genuinely motivated to ensure their livestock are well cared for. We urge cattle producer organizations in all beef producing nations to maintain and effectively implement animal welfare codes that are science based, outcome focused and do not impede international trade. We urge governments around the world to ensure any animal handling and welfare legislation complies with these same principles.
The IBA believes that beef producers have a responsibility as stewards of the land they manage and are leaders in the adoption of environmentally responsible practices. The IBA aims for beef producers to exceed community expectations of environmental stewardship.
The IBA countries exhort their respective governments to recognize the important role of beef producers in feeding a growing global population. The IBA also seeks to find ways, through the use of science and research, to increase the efficiency of beef production and managing for sustainable outcomes.
The IBA urges governments to avoid measures that distort global markets and negatively affect the availability of inputs and resources that are vital to the production of cattle. Examples of measures not consistent with this principle include government subsidies that encourage the diversion of massive quantities of feed grains for alternative purposes, overly restrictive controls on the movement of labor, lengthy delays on the approval of veterinary pharmaceuticals and other nonscientific regulatory burdens.
The IBA will facilitate and coordinate funding and programs for leadership development on an ongoing basis. This initiative is aimed at ensuring there are strong emerging representatives, leaders, and advocates to advance the beef industry into the future.
The IBA is open to other national cattle producer representative organizations that share these principles.
