January 3, 2013

Lebanon temporarily bans cattle import from Brazil

Due to fears of mad cow disease, Lebanon has imposed a temporary ban on the import of cattle from the Brazilian state of Parana.

The ban, issued by Agriculture Minister Hussein Hajj Hasan on December 26 includes the suspension of import of all livestock as well as meat - chilled and frozen - until further notice.

The decision comes days after Egypt, the third-biggest importer of Brazilian meat, also suspended imports from the Parana where a case of atypical mad cow disease had been confirmed in the world's top exporter of the meat.

South Africa, Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia have banned imports of Brazilian beef since local media reported the case earlier in December.