The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that the Jamaican Ministry of Agriculture has lifted its ban on US beef products.
This move is said to be due to the United States having implemented several new regulatory measures to strengthen the food safety system and assure consumers of safe meat products after the discovery of a single case of BSE in December 2003. These measures include banning non-ambulatory animals for human consumption, prohibiting specified risk materials and strengthening meat-processing safeguards.
Prior to the ban, US beef and beef products exports to Jamaica totalled $4.3 million in 2003.
"We are very pleased with this agreement with Jamaica because it marks an important step forward in getting US beef markets opened," Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman said. "We are continuing our market-opening efforts in other countries. Our goal continues to be the resumption of normal beef trade throughout the world, and we are working tirelessly on that effort.
"This action demonstrates Jamaica's commitment to trade in beef and beef products based on internationally accepted scientific standards for human and animal health."
