The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced a proposal to expand the list of allowable imports from countries recognized as presenting a minimal risk of introducing bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) into the United States. Currently, Canada is the only minimal-risk country designated by the United States.
The USDA reopened the border to live Canadian cattle under 30 months of age in 2005, but the ban remained on older cattle and beef. BSE, or mad cow disease, is considered very unlikely to be found in cattle younger than 30 months because of its long incubation period.
Agency officials said a formal risk assessment indicates that if the prevalence of BSE in Canada declines or?considered less likely?stays the same over the next 20 years, the risk that BSE would enter and spread within the United States is negligible. Canada has had 8 BSE cases since May_2003, including 5 in 2006.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to allow the importation of:
– Live cattle and other bovines for any use born on or after, March 1, 1999, the date determined by APHIS to be the date of effective enforcement of the ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban in Canada;
– Blood and blood products derived from bovines, collected under certain conditions; and
– Casings and part of the small intestine derived from bovines.