The Japanese Government yesterday (24 January) confirmed that a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has been discovered in Hokkaido, northern Japan. Officials announced that a 64-month-old Holstein cow that died last week was infected with the disease, Japanese reports state.

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The Agriculture Ministry said that the carcass would be destroyed, reassuring consumers that it had not entered the food chain.


The news comes just days after Japan reintroduced a ban on imports of beef form the US after prohibited spinal material, believed to present a higher risk of carrying BSE, was discovered in a shipment of US beef.

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