Easing of restriction on beef imports recommended

Even countries with the worst risk status for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, should no longer be confined to selling only beef from young cattle under 30 months old at slaughter, according to a new decision by the World Organization for Animal Health, known more commonly by the acronym OIE.

There are three possible OIE categories for BSE and "negligible" status is considered the best and is reserved for countries with the smallest risk. The next best is a "controlled" rating. The third rating is "undetermined."

The US, where three cases of BSE have been discovered since 2003, was designated with a "controlled" rating two years ago.

Two major beef importing countries - Japan and South Korea - restrict beef imports from the US based on cattle age. South Korea bans any US beef from cattle under 30 months old and Japan bans it from cattle under 21 months old.