My Beef with the USDA

I heard a report on NPR the other day talking about a beef co-op that raised premium beef cattle, mostly for sale in Japan. Of course since the whole Mad-Cow Disease scare, Japan won't import American beef. While Americans have long since forgotten the problem, Japan hasn't. So this co-op, and Creekstone Farms, another company before them, want to test every single one of thier cattle to prove they're Mad-Cow-Free. Great idea some would say, but then they probably don't know that it's somehow illegal.

The USDA won't give permission to these companies to test all of thier cattle. Why? Because that would set a new standard and Big Beef would have to follow suit, which would be damn expensive, and who cares about quality if it fucks with the profits?

Minimum testing standards make sense to me. Obviously it's cheaper and easier and in most cases sufficient to only test a certain quantity. But I had no idea there were maximum testing standards...and that pisses me off. Since when does anyone place a limit on the amount you can test. If testing some is good, testing more can only be better. The fact that the USDA would prevent testing is ludicrous. So what if it sets a higher standard, they're already in the business of premium beef, this creates another level of premium in my opinion. Isn't that how capitalism works? If testing all thier cattle allows them to sell it in various markets then what's the harm? How is more testing bad? But my bigger complaint is why do companies have to get permission to test more? Who the hell made that rule and how does it get changed? Creekstone Farms is now suing over the issue. I wish them well.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-rup29.6apr29,1,2915631.story?coll=la-headlines-business