Egypt opens borders to U.S. beef imports

Egypt opens borders to U.S. beef imports    Egypt will resume the importation of U.S. beef from cattle less than 30 months of age, starting immediately.
   Egypt closed its borders to U.S. beef after the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or “mad cow” disease, in December 2003.
   “We are extremely pleased at the reopening of another important market for U.S. beef exports and anticipate that exports will quickly return to pre-BSE trade levels,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns in a March 22 statement Tuesday.
   In 2003, Egyptian purchases of U.S. beef products amounted to $30 million, with liver accounting for nearly 65 percent or $19 million of total sales.
   The agreement with Egypt requires age and origin requirements under a USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Beef Export Verification program, the USDA said.