WASHINGTON, April 23 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has pressured its veterinarians into falsifying official documents for 20 years, former agency veterinarians told UPI.
The allegations come as a current USDA veterinarian and an attorney representing federal veterinarians have made similar charges about current internal practices at the agency's Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The veterinarian, who requested anonymity because he fears repercussions, and the attorney, Bill Hughes of the National Association of Federal Veterinarians, allege the current FSIS management take retaliatory actions against veterinarian inspectors who do not obey orders from superiors to sign certificates that falsely assert certain food items as safe for export.
Former veterinarians said the practice has been condoned in the agency for up to 20 years, and they often signed the export certificates without verifying their accuracy.
USDA spokesman Steven Cohen told UPI FSIS was not aware of any current problems with its export certification process and "would launch an investigation" if it learned management pressured veterinarians to sign false documents.
