Asia Pacific | Asian ban on U.S. beef boosts Australia exportsSYDNEY, May 21 ...

Asia Pacific

Asian ban on U.S. beef boosts Australia exports
SYDNEY, May 21 (Reuters) - The banning of United States beef by major Asian countries has helped boost Australian exports to its most important markets, a leading farmer's association said on Friday.

JAPAN/USA: Japan, US officials optimistic about beef trade
Officials from the Japanese and US governments have expressed optimism that the beef trade row between the two countries can be resolved by the end of the summer.

Beef bowl chain in Japan to use Australian beef
Japanese beef bowl chain Yoshinoya plans to offer a new item with Australian beef after having to curtail its most popular beef dishes in light of Japan's ban on U.S. beef, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported.

Americas

UPDATE 2-USDA admits problems with Canada beef imports
WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) - Republican and Democratic lawmakers on Thursday scolded the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its performance in protecting consumers against mad cow disease after the agency admitted it allowed Canadian beef imports that went beyond previously announced restrictions.

USDA details Canadian beef shipments since August
WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Thursday about 10 million pounds of Canadian beef had been allowed to enter the United States since last August, despite mad cow control rules.

Banned Canadian beef was imported into U.S.
The Agriculture Department allowed U.S. meatpackers to import ground beef and other processed beef from Canada last September, despite a ban on importing those products because a BSE-positive cow had been found in Alberta, the Washington Post reported.

Europe

Thousands may be vCJD carriers, UK scientists fear
LONDON, May 21 (Reuters) - Thousands of people may unwittingly be carrying the agent responsible for the human form of mad cow disease, according to research by British scientists, media reports said on Friday.

USA

UPDATE 1-USDA to hold Friday briefing on mad cow program
WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. Agriculture Department on Friday will detail its plans to sharply boost the number of cattle tested for mad cow disease beginning next month, a USDA spokeswoman said on Thursday.

UPDATE 1-Democrat demands USDA chief resign over Canada beef
WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) - A Democratic senator on Thursday called on Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman to quit amid allegations that the USDA quietly allowed millions of pounds of banned Canadian beef products into the United States.

Demand for U.S. beef outpacing production
Consumer demand for beef rose 10.4 percent in the first quarter of 2004, while at the same time retail prices increased during the month of April, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association reported.

Grill Bill Grows
The price of ground beef, steaks, and other beef cuts are increasing as the summer grilling season heats up in the U.S.

States prepare for ramped up B.S.E. testing date of June 1
East Troy -- An intensified effort in Wisconsin to look for mad cow disease is expected to begin June 1, the state Board of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection was told at a meeting here Wednesday

Asia Pacific

Asian ban on U.S. beef boosts Australia exports
SYDNEY, May 21 (Reuters) - The banning of United States beef by major Asian countries has helped boost Australian exports to its most important markets, a leading farmer's association said on Friday.

JAPAN/USA: Japan, US officials optimistic about beef trade
Officials from the Japanese and US governments have expressed optimism that the beef trade row between the two countries can be resolved by the end of the summer.

Beef bowl chain in Japan to use Australian beef
Japanese beef bowl chain Yoshinoya plans to offer a new item with Australian beef after having to curtail its most popular beef dishes in light of Japan's ban on U.S. beef, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported.

Americas

UPDATE 2-USDA admits problems with Canada beef imports
WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) - Republican and Democratic lawmakers on Thursday scolded the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its performance in protecting consumers against mad cow disease after the agency admitted it allowed Canadian beef imports that went beyond previously announced restrictions.

USDA details Canadian beef shipments since August
WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Thursday about 10 million pounds of Canadian beef had been allowed to enter the United States since last August, despite mad cow control rules.

Banned Canadian beef was imported into U.S.
The Agriculture Department allowed U.S. meatpackers to import ground beef and other processed beef from Canada last September, despite a ban on importing those products because a BSE-positive cow had been found in Alberta, the Washington Post reported.

Europe

Thousands may be vCJD carriers, UK scientists fear
LONDON, May 21 (Reuters) - Thousands of people may unwittingly be carrying the agent responsible for the human form of mad cow disease, according to research by British scientists, media reports said on Friday.

USA

UPDATE 1-USDA to hold Friday briefing on mad cow program
WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. Agriculture Department on Friday will detail its plans to sharply boost the number of cattle tested for mad cow disease beginning next month, a USDA spokeswoman said on Thursday.

UPDATE 1-Democrat demands USDA chief resign over Canada beef
WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) - A Democratic senator on Thursday called on Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman to quit amid allegations that the USDA quietly allowed millions of pounds of banned Canadian beef products into the United States.

Demand for U.S. beef outpacing production
Consumer demand for beef rose 10.4 percent in the first quarter of 2004, while at the same time retail prices increased during the month of April, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association reported.

Grill Bill Grows
The price of ground beef, steaks, and other beef cuts are increasing as the summer grilling season heats up in the U.S.

States prepare for ramped up B.S.E. testing date of June 1
East Troy -- An intensified effort in Wisconsin to look for mad cow disease is expected to begin June 1, the state Board of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection was told at a meeting here Wednesday