"The ban is effective as of April 24."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has issued a ban on imports of cattle products from the US following the discovery of a mad cow disease in that country on April 24.
Agriculture minister Suswono said here on Thursday the Directorate General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health a mad cow case was found in California on April 24.
On April 25 he called the US embassy to ask for clarification on the matter and "they confirmed about the case. The US agriculture attache in Indonesia had also presented evidence of the case," he said.
He said on Wednesday evenign the commission of animal health experts met and later issued a recommendation to temporarily stop imports of cattle products from that country.
"The ban is effective as of April 24 until further information about the handling of case by the US authorities," he said.
Products imported before April 24 would still be allowed to enter, he said adding products sent on April 24 would be re-exported.
To overcome the declining supply the minister said importers could import products from other countries.
"I think importers would find a way out. Certainly we do not want the case to lead to a drop in supply that could increase the price of cattle. We hope it will not happen,"he said.
The minister said Indonesia has so far also imported meat or cattle products from Australia, Canada and Brazil while imports from the US are not big.
(Uu.H-YH/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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