USDA PUTS BRAZILIAN BEEF IMPORTS ON HOLD
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it would temporary suspend imports of processed beef and related products from Brazil to ensure that these shipments are free of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or “mad cow disease.”
USDA is working with the Brazilian government to complete a “risk assessment” on this matter. Once Brazil’s beef imports are deemed safe, the USDA will lift the ban. “There is no evidence of BSE in Brazil,” USDA said.
Import restrictions in countries known to have BSE have been in place since 1989 and active surveillance efforts began in 1990.