The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) certified Costa Rica as one of the 41 countries free from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
The disease is commonly known as the “mad cow” disease, which can be lethal for humans who ingest contaminated meat.
The status, granted last May in the organization’s 84th meeting, enables a significant improvement in the health rank of the country, which reinforces the credibility of the animal disease prevention and control, and it also strengthens existing relationships and opens the access to new markets.
Among the countries that share this status are Chile, Argentina, Colombia, United States, Panama, Australia, the Netherlands and France.