*EPF404 01/15/2004
Text: U.S. Officials to Visit Japan in Attempt to Reopen Beef Market
(89 cows from herd linked to BSE case already destroyed, USDA says) (430)

U.S. officials plan to visit Japan during the week of January 19 in efforts to reopen the Japanese market to U.S. beef, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In a January 15 statement, USDA said it has so far destroyed 89 cows from a Washington state herd in which an animal infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was identified in December. It was the first ever case of BSE -- also known as mad cow disease -- to be identified in the United States.

USDA plans to destroy and test approximately 130 cows from the herd, it said.

Japan and Mexico have already sent delegations to the United States to discuss the response to BSE.

Following is the text of USDA's statement:

(begin text)

U.S. Department of Agriculture
BSE Update
January 15, 2004

Selective depopulation of the index herd, which began on Saturday, January 10, continues. USDA plans to transport, humanely euthanize, and test approximately 130 animals in the index herd. To date, 89 animals from the index premises have been euthanized and tested. Results of the tests will be reported as soon as they are available.

USDA's investigation on the 81 cows that came from Canada continues. Thus far, USDA's investigation has yielded the following information:

-- One of the 81 is the positive cow.

-- One has been located at a dairy in Quincy, Washington. USDA believes that seven other cows may have gone to this facility. USDA is currently reviewing records to determine how many may remain at this facility.

-- Three are under a hold order at a premises in Mattawa and will be removed in the near future.

-- Nine are in the index herd.

-- Some of the remaining cows that came in that shipment may be on the index premises, but at this time the identity of these animals has not been confirmed.

Next week, senior U.S. officials will visit Japan to continue work to reopen the Japanese market to U.S. beef. The meetings follow prior visits to both Japan and Mexico to discuss beef trade, and talks are ongoing with all trading partners on this issue. Japan and Mexico also have sent delegations to the United States to discuss our BSE response and investigation. Specific trade ban information is available at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/bse/bse_trade_ban_status.html.

Additional information on BSE can be obtained by visiting the USDA website at www.usda.gov. Past BSE updates can be viewed at www.aphis.usda.gov.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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