Grenada bans US beef imports and Cuba suspends U.S. cattle purchases

Wednesday, December 31, 2003

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada and HAVANA, Cuba: The Grenada government has announced a temporary ban on the importation of beef and beef products from the United States. Cuba said Tuesday it had also suspended purchases of live animals from the United States but expressed confidence it would resume them soon and add beef to a growing list of imported U.S. foods.

Cuba began buying American farm products in December 2001 and this year became the U.S. cattle industry's newest client. 

"I am confident the U.S. industry and scientists will stop the epidemic and normalize the situation ... I hope as soon as possible so we can continue and increase our purchases of cattle and begin buying meat," said Pedro Alvarez, chairman of Cuba's state food importer Alimport. 

Alvarez said the approximately $350 million in U.S. food products purchased to date included 500 head of cattle, which were under observation. 

In activating the ban by Grenada, Customs and Excise Officers will be watching for beef products processed in the USA.

Other Caribbean countries that have implemented a ban include Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the Dominican Republic and the Cayman Islands. 

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