Mad cow case in Brazil dubbed ‘atypical’ after export bans
SAO PAULO, March 2 (Reuters) – A confirmed case of mad cow disease in Brazil discovered last month is “atypical,” the agriculture ministry said on Thursday, adding it will work to lift beef export suspensions swiftly enacted by several countries in Asia.
The suspension on exports represents a major risk for Brazil’s key livestock sector, one of the world’s largest.
In a statement, the agriculture ministry pointed to an analysis conducted by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) that confirmed the unusual case of mad cow disease.
The ministry added that it will schedule a virtual meeting with Chinese officials to discuss a resumption of beef exports.
The case of mad cow disease, known scientifically as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), was found in a nine-year old bull from northern Para state.
The discovery was made public on Feb. 20 and triggered an automatic ban on Brazilian beef sales to China.
Earlier on Thursday, three additional Asian markets – Thailand, Iran and Jordan – slapped temporarily bans on beef imported from anywhere in Brazil.
Reuters
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