Ag Update: Developments On The BSE And Trade Front

The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to adopt world wide standards for the import of beef when it comes to concerns about BSE or what's commonly known as mad cow disease.

U.S.D.A, Chief Veterinarian, Dr. John Clifford, says it would be based on each country's risk level, bringing the U.S in line with the rest of world.

Clifford says that would open us up for more imports but more importantly,  "this rule will also assist us in helping reopen markets or to open new markets to U.S. Beef. This will bring us in line with standards that we have asked other countries to comply with as well."

Clifford says it would give the U.S. a stronger stance for negotiating exports to countries like Japan and Korea.