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The five appointees will each serve 3-year terms. “I am pleased that these individuals have agreed to provide their time and expertise,” said Vilsack. “I am confident that pork producers and importers will be well served by them.”

Another major trading partner, Japan, already limits shipments from animals 20 months of age and younger, and since the animal in the USDAÕs announcement was more than 10 years old, Japanese officials said there was no need to change their regulations, which last year resulted in more than 450 million pounds of U.S. beef being imported into the country. On April 24, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack issued the following statement in regards to the latest reported case of BSE: “The beef and dairy in the American food supply is safe and USDA remains confident in the health of U.S. cattle,” Vilsack said. “The systems and safeguards in place to protect animal and human health worked as planned to identify this case quickly, and will ensure that it presents no risk to the food supply or to human health. USDA has no reason to believe that any other U.S. animals are currently affected, but we will remain vigilant and committed to the safeguards in place.”