Economic Dislocation, Political Effects of Mad Cow Disease To Be Discussed by Former General Counsel to USDA
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — May of 2003, a case of indigenous mad-cow disease was reported in Canada; the U.S. Department of Agriculture closed the U.S. border to Canadian beef and cattle. In December 2003, a case of mad-cow disease was reported in the U.S., and the rest of the world closed its borders to U.S. beef and cattle. Severe economic dislocation resulted and political effects mushroomed. The legal issues presented by this situation will be described, along with possible solutions and constraints, the dynamics of interagency decision-making, and the role of constant oversight by Congress, the Inspector General, and the news media.
Observations will be made on what worked well, what didn’t, and a short list of practical tips for legal practitioners faced with problems of a similar dimension.
WHEN: 4-5 p.m., Tuesday, November 8, 2005
WHERE: University of Arkansas Union, Room 503 Leflar Law Center Courtroom, University of Arkansas
WHO: Nancy Bryson is former general counsel to the United States Department of Agriculture and now a partner in the prestigious Washington law firm of Venable LLP, where she heads the food and agriculture practice with Venable’s Regulatory Group. As USDA general counsel, Bryson participated in senior policy deliberations, helped formulate USDA policy and was actively involved in the many agencies, including Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and Food Safety and Inspection Service.
SPONSORED BY: National Agricultural Law Center, University of Arkansas School of Law
PARKING: Visitor parking is available in the Arkansas Union parking deck on Stadium Drive..
Contacts
Ann Winfred, publicity director, National Agricultural Law Center
(479) 575-7646, awinfred@uark.edu