December 30, 2003

Taiwan Bans US Cattle and Sheep

Taiwan declared a ban on imports of cattle, goats and sheep from the United States yesterday in the wake of an announcement by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) that America is classified as an area affected by mad cow disease, or formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

A press release from the Council of Agriculture (COA) said goods made with ingredients derived from U.S. cattle, goats and sheep are also banned.

The COA suspended imports of those products on December 24 after a suspected case of mad cow disease was announced in Washington state that day.

Under OIE rules, an epidemic area will not be allowed to export products made with animals that can be infected with the disease until seven years after the disease disappears.