Turkey bans cow import from US

"Under this decision, 1,351 animals have been imported from the United States in the past three years," the official said. He explained that none of the animals were imported from the state of Washington, where the case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, was seen.

"The animals are under control. There is nothing to worry about," he said.

Importing animal and beef was banned in 1996 to protect local breeders but a limited number of cows were purchased to help establish large-scale farming.