Colombia restricts US beef from some states due to bird flu in cows

Chicago | Reuters—Colombia has restricted the import of U.S. beef and beef products coming from states where dairy cows have tested positive for avian influenza as of April 15, according to a notice on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website this week.

Colombia imports a small amount of beef from the U.S. annually, according to government data and market analysts.

Colombia is the only country that has officially imposed restrictions on U.S. beef exports over the H5N1 outbreak, said Joe Schuele, spokesman for the US Meat Export Federation.

To date, confirmed cases of the virus have been confined to dairy cattle. However, the Meat Institute, which represents U.S. meat processors, urged USDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct additional testing to ensure beef remains safe to eat. The group also called on the agencies to issue specific guidance to ensure meatpacking workers are protected from infection.

—Reporting for Reuters by PJ Huffstutter and Tom Polansek