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News Update
Aug. 4, 2005

Non-Definitive BSE Case Tests Negative

Samples from an animal announced July 27 to be suspected of being infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) have tested negative for the disease, said John Clifford, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) deputy administrator.

Testing conducted at both the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Weybridge, England, produced negative results, Clifford announced yesterday.

“NVSL and Weybridge conducted the additional testing after a non-definitive IHC (immunohistochemistry) test result was received last week,” Clifford said. “The initial non-definitive result was caused by artifactual (artificial or untrue) staining and, while this staining did not resemble BSE, we felt the prudent course was to conduct the additional tests.”

See Angus e-List No. 25, “Non-Definitive BSE Test Results Announced,” for further information about the case.


Philippines Lifts Ban

The Philippines will resume U.S. beef and beef product imports, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns announced today.

According to a USDA release, the U.S. can now ship boneless beef from cattle 30 months or younger to the Philippines — a move valued at an estimated $2.5 million.

The border opening comes after the country closed its already restricted border to U.S. beef in June 2005, shortly after the United States’ second case of BSE was announced.


Bush Signs CAFTA

President George Bush signed the U.S.-Dominican Republic and Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) Aug. 2, following the bill’s narrow passage last week in the U.S. House of Representatives.

According to an American Meat Institute (AMI) release, the President stressed the importance of the trade relationship and other national security aspects of the agreement, calling DR-CAFTA “a ‘signal’ that the United States will stand with its neighboring young democracies.”


— by Crystal Albers, Angus Productions Inc., associate editor

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