‘Mad Cow’ Case Prompts New Rules on Cattle Feed

Responding to concern over the nation’s first case of “mad cow” disease, Japan banned the domestic distribution of cattle feed made with recycled cow parts. Imported meat-and-bone meal had previously been banned.

The move, which takes effect Thursday, also bars the use of domestic and imported meat-and-bone meal in fertilizers, the Agriculture Ministry said.

A cow in central Japan was found last month to have bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Investigators believe it contracted the disease by eating infected animal feed.