Press Release

Jim Rogers	(202) 690-4755
Jerry Redding	(202) 720-6959

USDA PROVIDES UPDATES TO FOREIGN CHIEF VETERINARY OFFICERS ON BSE ACTIONS

WASHINGTON, March 26, 2004—The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has provided the results of its bovine spongiform encephalopathy investigation to foreign chief veterinary officers.

"We have provided information on the results of our epidemiological investigation and our recent BSE initiatives," said Dr. Ron DeHaven, APHIS deputy administrator for Veterinary Services and Chief Veterinary Officer for the United States. "This information demonstrates that any remaining trade restrictions against U.S. beef and beef products can be lifted without compromising safety."

The letters contain several enclosures that provide each recipient country with the following:

• Details of the complete epidemiological investigation;
• Findings and recommendations of an international review team;
• Actions that the United States has taken in response to the international review team's report; and,
• Information about USDA's enhanced surveillance plan.

APHIS stressed that the actions taken in response to BSE fully comply international requirements and urged the recipient countries to modify any remaining trade restrictions on ruminants and ruminant products.

The letters and enclosures are available online at www.aphis.usda.gov.

Note to Reporters: USDA news releases, program announcements and media advisories are available on the Internet. Access the APHIS home page by pointing your Web browser to
http://www.aphis.usda.gov and clicking on the "News" button.