Banning Brazilian beef “not justified”, says OIE chief
08/01/2013
China, Japan, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Jordan imposed import bans after the OIE said a cow that died in 2010 had tested positive for a protein that causes bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). However, the 13-year-old cow died of natural causes and did not develop the disease.
OIE director General Bernard Vallat told Reuters: "One case in a population of 200 million heads of cattle does not justify a change of status.”
Officials from the Secretary for Animal and Plant Health at Brazil's farm ministry said Brazil would give the countries until March before pursuing legal action at the World Trade Organisation.
Share this story:
