Federal rules of beef imported into the U.S. will change beginning March 4 under the new rule published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regarding bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), the fatal disease in cattle more commonly known as mad cow disease.
The new rule, which goes into effect March 4, revises the conditions for importation of bovine products. It uses a science-based classification system that is consistent with the World Trade Organization for Animal Health, bringing the U.S. guidelines for imports in line with international standards.
The rule sets the conditions under which certain commodities may be imported into the U.S. from regions that have been designated as having negligible, controlled or undetermined risk for disease, according to Agri-Pulse.
USDA also will remove the BSE-related import restrictions on meat from deer, elk, llamas and other cervid and camelid species.