By Damion Mitchell, Staff ReporterTHE BAN on beef was imposed after Tuesday's announcement that a sick cow, which was slaughtered about two weeks ago near Yakima, Washington, tested positive for mad cow disease.
Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke told The Gleaner yesterday that today's meeting would decide whether to import beef from Australia and New Zealand.
"We will take a look at the countries and their availability but I really want to wait until the OIE (Animal Health Organisation Office of International Epizootics) gives the clearance for us to start importing meat," he said.
The Minister also expressed concern that the new case of mad cow disease could affect local consumption.
"It not only affects the American market because if there is consistent talk about mad cow, it will affect local consumption," he said.
So far at least one local hotel which uses local beef has reported a reduction in its preparation since last week. Clement Myles, Purchasing Co-ordinator at Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort in Montego Bay, St. James said, "we have already seen the cut, less beef is going out on the line." The resort purchases an average of 1,000 pounds of beef every three to four weeks, he said.
BEEF INTAKE NOT AFFECTED
However, Julia Campbell, purchasing clerk at the Hilton Hotel, in New Kingston said that beef intake and consumption have not been affected.
Minister Clarke could not provide figures on the quantity of beef imported from the United States yesterday nor could the Ministry's Veterinary Division.
The United States Agriculture Department said Saturday that the cow, which was identified with the mad cow disease, was from a farm north of Edmonton in Alberta, Canada, however Canadian agriculture officials yesterday downplayed the allegations.
Mad cow disease formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, was first diagnosed in Britain in 1986. It had spread through 180,000 livestock, led to the deaths of more than 100 people and prompted the United States and other countries to ban beef imports.
In May this year, a single case of mad cow disease was found in Alberta, Canada. A number of countries, including Jamaica and the United States, banned the importation of Canadian beef.
