Brazil has launched a new campaign to convince importers that its beef is free from mad cow disease.
A report from Brazil's Agriculture ministry had revealed that the carcass of a cow that died in 2010 in southern Brazil carried disease-carrying proteins, but the animal did not develop the disease nor die from it.
In response to the report, Japan banned beef imports from Brazil earlier this month and noted that it will seek shipments from other exporters such as Australia and the US.
Even though Japan is not a major importer of Brazilian beef, the officials are concerned that other nations may also impose the restrictions and have started a campaign to allay the fears.
In a statement, the ministry said that the finding does not present any risk to public health or animal sanitary safety as the animal did not die of the mad cow disease.
Brazil plans to send delegations to its top 20 beef importing nations to clarify the case.
Agriculture ministry secretary general Jose Carlos Vaz said that the government will offer the necessary clarifications in order to eliminate the concerns about the country's animal sanitation defense system.
Mad cow disease, which is scientifically known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) damages the central nervous system in cattle, and people who consume the contaminated beef can develop a rapidly progressive type of dementia.
