January 26, 2004

Poland Lifts US Beef Ban

Poland is the first country to lift its ban on U.S. beef following the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad-cow disease, December 23.

Poland's ban only lasted from January 15 to January 17 and was done to put in place new import licensing rules.

Jim Rogers, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, said Polish officials really only had questions about the handling of specified risk materials - the brain, spinal cord and certain internal organs.

More than 40 countries banned U.S. beef and beef products after the BSE discovery. Only Canada and the Philippines continued to allow product shipments, Rogers said.

Of U.S. beef customers, Poland is a very small player, Rogers said. In 2002, the country imported 52 metric tons of fresh beef products and 64 tons of frozen, for a total value of $221,000.