WEST ALLIS, Wis., Aug. 4, 2005 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced that the Philippines will resume imports of U.S. beef and beef products.

"I am very pleased with the reopening of the Philippines market to U.S. beef and beef products, which demonstrates their commitment to trade based on internationally accepted scientific standards for human and animal health," said Johanns. "The Philippines recognizes that U.S. beef and beef products are safe. This is another step forward in our efforts to reopen global markets for U.S. beef."

Under the agreement announced today, the United States will now be able to export boneless beef from cattle not older than 30 months to the Philippines. The estimated value of the Philippines market reopening to U.S. boneless beef is $2.5 million.

In 2003, the United States exported $4.9 million worth of beef and beef products to the Philippines. After the December 2003 discovery of the first BSE-infected cow in the United States, the Philippines adopted measures to restrict imports of certain types of U.S. beef, while allowing imports of U.S. boneless beef from cattle not older than 30 months with its memorandum order in January 2004. In June 2005, the Philippines imposed a temporary ban on beef and beef products from the United States following confirmation that a second U.S. cow had tested positive for BSE.