010469 US Bans Uruguay Meat Due to Foot-And-MouthApril 29, 2001Washington - The United States has temporarily banned all imports of animals and meat products from Uruguay after the South American country reported an outbreak of highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease, USDA said. The U.S. ban is likely to have little impact since Uruguay has already suspended meat exports after confirming an outbreak of the disease in cattle at two sites in the country's Soriano region, which borders Argentina. Uruguay has blamed Argentina, which was dealing with its own foot-and-mouth epidemic, for its newly discovered outbreak. The disease, which can be transported on clothing, vehicles and in the air, causes sores on the feet and mouths of infected animals, reduces milk and meat production and interferes with reproduction. The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said it has placed a retroactive hold, dating back to March 23, on all animal and meat products being imported into the United States from Uruguay. The United States has been free of foot-and-mouth disease since 1929. Uruguay has 10 million head of cattle, and beef is its most important export. The country shipped 270,000 tonnes of beef last year worth $370 million. Of that total, Uruguay shipped 20,153 tonnes to the United States.
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