According to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), an international organization on animal disease control, the issue of easing the trade requirements on beef from countries stricken by the mad cow disease will be placed on the agenda for its General Assembly to be held late this month.

 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) said on Tuesday that the OIE would raise the issue of the revision of the animal health regulations regarding the BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) at the General Assembly.

 

According to the revised regulations, beef and cows which originated from BSE-hit countries are included in the items to be traded freely, regardless of risk levels set by each nation. Nevertheless, some conditions will have to be attached to comply with animal raising and slaughtering regulations.

 

The livestock and poultry trade requirements set by the OIE are adopted as the standard for the World Trade Organization. Therefore, if a government maintains the embargo on beef after the passage of the agenda citing the BSE and without further reasonable considerations, the measure can be filed at the WTO.