Belmopan, December 24, 2003

“MAD COW” IN THE USA : TEMPORARY BAN ON IMPORTS (live animals, meat and bone meal and meat from ruminants)

The OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) has informed all member countries, including Belize, of the presumptive diagnosis of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, “Mad Cow”) in the USA . Through the routine surveillance programme in place for BSE in the USA , a sample was taken from an adult diary cow (downer/fallen stock) slaughtered on the 9 th December 2003 in an abattoir in Washington State . This particular sample tested positive for BSE and samples have been submitted to the OIE Reference Laboratory in the United Kingdom for definitive confirmation of the diagnosis of BSE. The USDA Office in Guatemala has also informed BAHA that the herd of origin is under quarantine and is tracing the origin of the animal and the destination of products from the animal.

The USA is Belize 's largest trading partner accounting for over 75% of our imports in animal products and by-products. As BSE affects both animals and humans, Belize needs to take emergency measures due to the report of BSE in the USA . These emergency measures are:

1. temporary ban on BSE risk commodities from the USA . These commodities include mainly live animals, meat and bone meal and meat from ruminants.
2. invalidation of all current import permits issued for BSE risk commodities and assessment of all risk commodities imported into Belize .
3. all live ruminants imported from the USA in the last seven years will be traced and placed under quarantine.
4. meat and bone meal imported from the USA will also be traced and quarantined.

These emergency measures are effective immediately and may be reduced or maintained depending on the evolution of the situation and the information received. The USDA will keep us updated on all developments.

Earlier this year, in May, Canada reported its first and only case so far of BSE in a Black Angus cow condemned at slaughter in Alberta . This case was detected as part of Canada 's ongoing BSE surveillance programme. Besides Canada and the USA , no other country in the Americas has reported BSE.

Belize has been strengthening its surveillance programme for BSE and has recently agreed with stakeholders to conduct ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection at abattoirs. The situation in Canada and USA shows the importance of meat inspection at abattoirs.

Further information can be obtained from the Animal Health, Food Safety and Quarantine Departments of BAHA. The Director of Animal Health Services can be reached at 011-501-824-4872 or 011-501-824-4899.

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