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US Bans All EU Meat, Animal Imports
The United States suspended Tuesday all imports of meat and live animals from the European Union, where outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have been reported.
In a statement, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said, "This temporary action is being taken following confirmation of foot-and-mouth disease in France."
"These measures are part of a coordinated prevention program to ensure the disease does not spread into the United States," the statement said.
French officials said Tuesday that the disease was found in cattle on a farm that had earlier imported sheep from Britain.
The United States suspended all meat and animal imports from Britain on February 21 and ordered checks of travelers arriving from Britain. Now, travelers from EU countries are also required to be checked.
The ban would have serious impact on imports of pork from the Netherlands and Denmark. Imports of beef from EU countries already were banned because of mad cow disease.
The USDA statement did not say when the temporary ban would be lifted.
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