Oman on Saturday slapped a ban on imports of cows and beef from France, Ireland, Portugal and Switzerland for fear of "mad cow" disease, the agriculture ministry announced.
The ministry, quoted by the official news agency ONA, said the ban would remain in place "until further notice" but did not affect milk products or derivatives.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as "mad cow" disease, was first spotted in Britain in 1986. Since then more than 80 people have died of a human form of the disease after consuming contaminated beef.
Two such deaths have been reported in France – MUSCAT (AFP)
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