September 28, 2005

Australia considers easing strict mad cow disease regulations
 

Australia's government said it was considering a decision to ease the country's strict mad cow disease, or BSE, regulations. This might allow beef imports from BSE-affected countries based on scientific evidence that it was safe to relax the import regulations.

Australian agriculture minister Peter McGauran supported the change to be in line with current practices in the US, Canada and other countries. However, he said the government was examining import implications of a change in policy which would allow "under the strictest and narrowest of conditions, beef from BSE-affected countries into Australia."

Meanwhile, the Australian beef industry wanted the government to overturn current regulations which would ban all beef from domestic sale if the country registered a single case of BSE.

The Cattle Council, Meat and Livestock Australia and the Australian Meat Industry Council have written to the government saying this regulation was unscientific, and would cripple the entire US$11 billion Australian beef industry if a BSE case occurred.

While Australia might accept beef imports from countries affected by BSE if domestic rules were changed, the beef industry said this should only be done under tough regulations.