June 30, 2005

Indonesia will ban US beef from Thursday

Indonesia would ban imports of US beef and beef products from Thursday after a second case of mad cow disease was discovered in the US herd. It had lifted the previous beef ban in May 2004, but the ban this time would be for an indefinite period.

It would affect all imports of live cows, meat, innards and meat bone meal, but would not cover imports under permits granted before June 30, where delivery was due before or on August 30.

Indonesia imports about 6,500 tonnes of US beef a year, or 4 percent of its total beef imports.