U.S. trade negotiators renew resolve to press Japan on beef
US - U.S. trade negotiators renewed their determination Monday to prod Japan to raise the age limit on cattle eligible for imports to 30 months from the currently agreed 20 months and fully reopen its market to U.S. beef imports.

Japan Says Science Will Determine Fate Of U.S. Beef
JAPAN - Japan Vice Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Yoshio Kobayashi said Thursday that accurate scientific data, not pressure from Washington, should be the determining factor in whether his country decides to remove current restrictions...

Creekstone Wins Testing Case; Appeal Likely
US - Creekstone Farms Premium Beef and other meatpackers have the right to test all the animals they slaughter for mad cow disease, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

Cattle Producers Welcome Growing Opposition To USDA's Proposed OTM Rule
US - Cattle producers are pleased that a bipartisan group of 13 U.S. Representatives wrote a letter earlier this month to oppose the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) proposed rule (Rule 2) that would permit live Canadian cattle born after March...

Identifying Variation In U.S. Bovine Prion Gene
US - Do genes affect bovine spongiform encephalopathy - also known as BSE, or “mad cow” disease? Are some cattle more susceptible than others?

Judge Says U.S. Government Must Allow Private Testing For Mad Cow Disease
WASHINGTON - The federal government must allow meatpackers to test their animals for mad cow disease, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

Industry To Study Cost Of Reducing Mad Cow Risk
AUSTRALIA - The meat industry is commissioning a study to investigate how much it would cost to remove all BSE-risk material from beef in the human and livestock food chains.

The way to cattle import from EU is paved
EU - The minister of agriculture Eker pointed out the report of international epidemic disease office about BSE disease and gave a green light about cattle import from EU.

Canada blames suspect feed for latest BSE case
CANADA - Canada's ninth case of mad cow disease since 2003, announced in February, was most likely caused by suspect feed, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said on Monday.

New Twist In Tale Of BSE's Beginnings
U.K - The discovery that a rare brain disease in cows can mutate into BSE has given new life to the theory that mad cow disease started out in cattle, rather than crossing over from sheep.

S. Korea VS America: How Safe Is A Controlled Risk?
SEOUL - South Korea stressed Tuesday that there is a need to conduct a thorough examination of mad cow disease risks in U.S. beef before the full resumption of its imports.

Beef Farmers 'Cautiously Optimistic' On U.S. Ban
CANADA - Canada's beef farmers are continuing to suffer the effects of a BSE crisis but some good news could be on the horizon, says a local director with the Canadian Cattlemen's Association.

CFIA Launches Feed Ban Awareness Campaign
OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has launched a communications campaign to raise awareness of new safeguards intended to accelerate the elimination of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, from Canadian cattle...

Call for EU to update beef-on-bone rules
UK - One of the immediate consequences of the BSE crisis in March 1996 was a total ban on all sales of beef from cattle aged over 30 months.

U.S. groups seek help from senators to keep border closed to older cows
WASHINGTON — More than 100 U.S. agricultural groups and livestock auction yards sent a letter to senators this week seeking help to stop older Canadian cows from crossing the border.

NFU to USDA: Don’t Expand Canadian Border
WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) expressing the organization’s strong opposition to the Department’s proposed rule to expand beef and cattle trade with Canada.

Minimal Risk Rule Important Step to Normalized Trade with Canada
US - USDA's proposed rule to allow additional imports from Canada “is one more step toward returning to normal cattle and beef trade between the United States and Canada,” according to comments submitted to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service...

Statement by Dehaven regarding OIE risk recommendation
US - “In October 2006, the U.S. Department of Agriculture submitted an application and supporting documents to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to formally request country classification for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk.

AAFC: $39.8 Million to Implement Enhanced Feed Ban in Alberta
EDMONTON - The Government of Canada and the Alberta government are investing nearly $40 million in Alberta's beef industry to help accelerate the elimination of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) from Alberta's cattle herds. The Canada-Alberta funding...

U.S. officials get to work on rule resuming trade in older Canadian cows
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Agriculture Department will close a public comment period Monday on resuming imports of older Canadian cattle despite pressure from some American ranchers to extend it.