The Costa Rica News (TCRN) – The World Health Organization included Costa Rica in the list of countries with controlled risk of “mad cow disease”, said the Ministry of Agriculture.
This recognition is achieved when a country meets OIE requirements to demonstrate their ability to prevent BSE, commonly called mad cow disease and to implement appropriate control measures in the production chain.
“This is a major achievement, especially for an activity such as livestock, which is strategic for being a provider of basic food for the population, its linkages with other economic sectors,” said Costa Rican Minister of Agriculture, Gloria Abraham.
“From the point of view of public health guarantee to consumers that the Costa Rican beef consumption is safe, as the causal agent of this disease is not present in domestic herds,” he said.
With this certificate, Costa Rica is in the same health status with countries of high standards in relation to bovine disease as Spain, Germany, France and Canada.
For local authorities, the certification also opens other possibilities for the country, as the use of inputs to produce bovine heart valves.
Costa Rica produces, according to official figures, about 90,000 metric tons of meat per year.
The Costa Rica News (TCRN)
San Jose Costa Rica
