Press Release: Commission welcomes the US Rule announcement to bring the US legislation in line with international standards for BSE

The European Commission on 2 November 2013 welcomed the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) rule announcement to bring the US legislation in line with international standards for BSE.

This will mean that EU beef and other bovine products will again be allowed for US export. The US market has been closed since January 1998 when the US imposed a ban on EU beef on BSE grounds. The re-opening is a welcome, albeit late, step to abolish the unjustified ban and to re-establish normal trading conditions.