An expert panel on mad cow disease has agreed there is little difference in the risks posed by beef from North American and Japanese cows, paving the way to lift the ban on U.S. beef imports before President George W. Bush's visit next month.
But it is unclear whether consumers will be willing to buy American beef after the ban, which has been in place for almost two years, is removed. If sales are sluggish, the United States could become even more demanding, one government source said.
The panel of scientists, which operates under the independent Food Safety Commission, released a report Monday saying the risk of mad cow disease being found in North American beef is "extremely low" if import regulations are properly observed.