APHIS Loosens Bovine Import Restrictions on 14 Countries

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is recognizing 14 regions as having negligible risk for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease, it said (here). The decision to concur with the recommendations of the World Organization for Animal Health’s risk classifications means U.S. restrictions on importation of live bovines and bovine products will be relaxed (see 13110403). The new classifications apply to the following countries: Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, India, South Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia and Switzerland.