US mad cow scare grips Asia; Japan, S.Korea ban American beef

Bangkok, Dec. 24: The US mad cow scare gripped Asia on Wednesday with the top importers of American beef — Japan and South Korea — banning its entry along with Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

Japan, the largest market for American beef, imposed an indefinite ban on imports of US beef after a cow on a Washington state farm was tested positive for mad cow disease.

"We must ban beef imports from the United States for the time being. We must recall products that include so-called ‘dangerous parts’ such as brains and spinal cords," Japan’s Agriculture Ministry said.

South Korea has halted the customs inspection of US beef effectively banning its presence in the domestic market.

Thailand’s Department of livestock development also banned imports from the United States.

Singapore banned beef imports from the United States on Wednesday.

Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore said in a statement it suspended the import of beef from the United States with immediate effect.

The city state this year imported 988 tons of beef from the United States, valued at $7.1 million, the authority said. A bulk of its beef imports are from Australia and New Zealand.

Malaysia and Taiwan followed suit imposing a temporary ban on US beef imports. (PTI)