May 29, 2009

Japan was awarded this week a favourable "controlled" risk status for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease by the World Organization for Animal Health, known more commonly by the acronym OIE, a spokeswoman said.

Japan has reported finding 35 cases of BSE since 2001, according to data maintained by the OIE.

OIE spokeswoman Maria Zampaglione said Thursday that Colombia was also designated as "controlled" and Chile received the most desired "negligible" risk status.

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 OIE is recognized for its expertise by the World Trade Organization, but has no enforcement component.

The US received its "controlled" status from the OIE two years ago, but Japan still maintains tough restrictions on US beef that damp trade, according to the US-based National Cattlemen's Beef Association. Japan allows only beef from cattle under 21 months old at slaughter and that, the group said recently, blocks about US$1 billion worth of US exports per year.