From The Blog

Asian nations react to American mad cow

Posted by JD Thomas on December 24, 2003 in Techfun

Asian nations have reacted swiftly to the discovery of madcow disease in the United States. Japan, the world’s biggest importer of US beef,...

Asian nations have reacted swiftly to the discovery of madcow disease in the United States.

Japan, the world’s biggest importer of US beef, announced a temporary ban.

It came less than three hours after US Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said initial tests had shown that a cow from northwestern US state of Washington may have the deadly brain-wasting disease.

China said it was hoping to make an announcement later.

South Korea, the fourth biggest market for US beef, also followed Japan’s lead.

So did Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

Asia’s reaction has destroyed US farmers’ hopes that the export component of their 40-billion-dollar industry would be spared serious fall-out despite assurances that humans would not be affected by the latest case

Fears over mad cow disease also pushed down US stocks, with shares in fast food giant McDonald’s plunging nearly eight percent in opening trade.

25/12/2003 08:26:01 | ABC Radio Australia News