American beef may soon be back on the menu in China

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it has reached an agreement with Chinese officials on the finalized protocols for U.S. beef to again gain access to the world’s most populated country. Beef trade with China halted in 2003 following the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease in the U.S.“Today is a great day for the United States and in particular for our cattle producers, who will be regaining access to an enormous market with an ever-expanding middle class,” says Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.Export requirements into China include:Cattle must be identifiable to the farm or ranch they were born on in the U.S. For cattle imported to China they must be traceable through their port of entry.Beef must come from cattle 30 months of age or younger.Chilled or frozen bone-in and deboned beef products are eligible for shipment.Carcasses, beef, and beef products must be uniquely identified and controlled up until the time of shipment.