WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced new rules Thursday to enhance safeguards against Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or mad cow disease.
On Dec. 30, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced a number of policies to further strengthen protections against BSE, including the immediate banning of non-ambulatory (downer) animals from the human food supply.
Rules to address the remaining issues went on display at the Federal Register Thursday and are the result of many months of development.
These policies involve: requiring additional process controls for establishments using advanced meat recovery systems; holding meat from cattle that have been tested for BSE until the test results are received and they are negative; and prohibiting the air-injection stunning of cattle.
