BSE scare: US imposes tough restrictions

The US Agriculture Department has stepped up the country’s defences against mad cow disease, banning meat from cows that cannot walk or stand on their own and promising to create a nationwide animal tracking system as soon as possible.

The changes, supported by consumer experts, were also intended to boost confidence in the American beef supply at home and abroad, where more than 30 countries have banned US beef products.

These are “very aggressive actions”, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said, a week after the first US case of BSE surfaced in a Washington state Holstein cow slaughtered on December 9.

The changes will include more rapid testing of cattle at higher risk of mad cow disease because of age or the presence of neurological problems. Their meat will not be processed until test results are back.

Veneman also said small intestines from cows would no longer be allowed into the US food supply.

Nor would head and spinal tissue from cattle older than 30 months.

In addition, the Bush administration is ordering changes in slaughterhouse techniques to prevent meat from being accidentally contaminated with brain or spinal cord tissue that can spread mad cow disease.

“Sound science continues to be our guide,” Veneman said.

The Food and Drug Administration, however, said that for the time being it would not ban the use of the high-risk cattle products in pet foods and feed for chickens and pigs, saying there was no scientific evidence to support such a ban. There has been a ban on using cattle products in feed for cattle, sheep and goats since August 1997.

Many of the changes were implemented by Canada last May, when a single case of mad cow surfaced in Alberta.