Panama Allows For
Importation of U.S.
Cattle
The U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Animal and
Plant Health Inspection
Service announced that
consistent with
international standards,
Panama is allowing the
importation of U.S.
cattle of all ages.
"Panama's decision
demonstrates confidence
in the United States'
ability to effectively
protect animal health
and food safety with
science-based
safeguards," said APHIS
administrator Cindy
Smith. "We are pleased
that Panama and other
trading partners are
taking steps to align
their import
requirements with
international standards
that support full market
access for U.S. cattle."
In May 2007, the World
Organization for Animal
Health formally
classified the United
States as a controlled
risk country for bovine
spongiform
encephalopathy (BSE).
This status confirms
that U.S. BSE regulatory
controls are effective
and that U.S. cattle can
be safely traded.
Panama stopped allowing
the importation of live
U.S. cattle after BSE
was detected in an
imported Canadian cow in
December 2003. Panama
has already reopened its
border to the
importation of cattle
products from the United
States. Before the ban,
Panama's market for live
U.S. cattle exports was
quickly expanding. In
2003, Panama's
importation of live U.S.
cattle doubled what had
been imported in the
previous three years
combined. |
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