US Beef Imports to Indonesia Suspended

Following reports of a mad-cow disease incidence in the United States, Indonesia issued a ban on US beef imports. Just last year, Indonesia exported 2,000 tonnes of US beef. 

Indonesia’s Vice Agriculture Minister Rusman Heriawan said the country will only lift the ban once the United States can assure the Minister their cows are mad-cow disease-free. Heriawan, however, does not want to say how long the ban will stay, adding that it will depend on how long it would take to resolve the issue. 

This is the first incidence of mad cow disease in the US since 2006. A dairy cow in California was discovered to have mad cow disease. US health authorities, however, said the said cow does not pose a threat to the country’s food supply. 

US Trade Representative Ron Kirk said there is no reason for the public to worry. There is no evidence to support that mad cow disease affect any of its imports. He also expressed confidence that Indonesia would soon lift the ban. 

Mad cow disease is fatal to cows. Brain disease can affect humans who consume contaminated beef products. Mad cow disease is also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy. 

Indonesia is the first country to suspend the entry of US beef imports. Other countries have not issued any warning or advisory against US beef imports but industry observers expect South Korea and Japan to follow Indonesia’s move. The two countries are the biggest consumers of US beef imports. 

Jeon Jong-min said South Korea has no plans of issuing a ban on US beef. Jong-min is the agriculture ministry’s director for the quarantine policy division.

Tagged Jeon Jong-min, Ron Kirk, Rusman Heriawan