APHIS: ISRAELI MEATS MAY CONTAIN ôMAD-COWö DISEASE
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has changed its regulations to include Israel on its list of regions where bovine spongiform encephalopathy, so-called “mad-cow” disease, exists because the disease has been found in native-born animals.
“These interim rules are necessary in order to continue to safeguard American agriculture against this deadly neurological disease of bovine animals,” APHIS said. So far, no case of BSE has been reported in the United States.
APHIS, in cooperation with USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and other federal agencies, has taken “aggressive measures” in BSE surveillance, prevention, education and preparation for response.
Since 1989, the agency has banned the importation of live animals from all countries where the disease has been discovered. Other products derived from ruminants also are restricted entry into the United States except under special conditions or under permit for scientific or research purposes, APHIS said.