Brasília, December 29, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The National Health Inspection Agency (Anvisa) imposed an unlimited ban on drugs, cosmetics, processed food, and food additives derived from cattle, sheep, goats, buffalos, and wild ruminants in the United States. The ban, however, covers only those products included in the three highest categories of infectiousness. Thus, products that include in their composition brains, eyes, tonsils, placentas, and marrow, for example, are not allowed to enter Brazil. Semi-processed, bulk, and finished products, on the other hand, are subject to prior authorization by the Anvisa.

The decision is the result of a confirmed case of mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) in the state of Washington. The United States was also reclassified by the Brazilian government agency in terms of geographical risk areas. It was place in zone 3, that is, "a country or zone temporarily free of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in which a local occurrence has been declared." Countries like Germany, France, Romania, Canada, and Spain are in the same category.

Among the countries that don't suffer this kind of restriction are Argentina, Australia, Uruguay, and Chile. (DAS)