050817 Philippines Lifts Mad Cow-Related Beef BanAugust 6, 2005Washington - The Philippines is lifting a mad cow-related ban on U.S. beef, the Agriculture Department said. The Philippines will resume shipments of U.S. beef from cattle younger than 30 months of age. Jeff McIntosh, AP The Philippines had temporarily banned U.S. beef and beef products in June, after the United States confirmed a second case of mad cow disease in a Texas-born cow. The Philippines will resume shipments of U.S. beef from cattle younger than 30 months of age. The age restriction resulted from the December 2003 discovery of the first U.S. case of mad cow disease in Washington state in a cow imported from Canada. Younger animals are believed to present less of a risk because infection spreads with age. "This is another step forward in our efforts to reopen global markets for U.S. beef," Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said in a statement. The Agriculture Department expects the Philippines market to be worth $2.5 million this year. In 2003, the U.S. sold beef worth $4.9 million to the Philippines. In contrast, Japan, formerly the biggest U.S. beef customer, purchased $1.5 billion in U.S. beef in 2003. Despite agreeing to lift its ban last fall, Japan still has not done so.
E-mail: sflanagan@sprintmail.com |
