December 26, 2003

Russia Bans US Beef

Russia announced a temporary ban of beef imports from the United States on Wednesday. The Russian government did not give further details.   

"We have received official confirmation that the US state of Washington has recorded its first case of the mad cow disease," Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev was quoted as saying.

He said that Russia's veterinary service has decided to order a ban on US ban imports as a result and that the move came in line with existing Russian law.

Russia's decision follows that of series of Asian nations, which took only hours to respond to the US announcement Tuesday.

Russia is one of the world's top importers of US poultry, but only 4% of imported beef products come from the United States, Gordeyev said.