Japan, US experts discuss worries on beef trade. Japan and the United States started two days of talks on Tuesday at which Washington will seek to dispel concerns about a U.S. inspection system for mad cow disease and move Tokyo a step closer to lifting a ban on American beef imports. [News Source]

U.S. wants Japan to resume beef shipments. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said Monday he wants to persuade Japan to resume U.S. beef shipments before deciding whether to scale back tests for mad cow disease. [News Source]

Human-to-human ‘mad cow’-like infection possible. People may be at risk for contracting the human version of mad cow disease, even if they haven't eaten parts from an infected animal, a new study contends. [News Source]

Scots team finds dormant CJD could emerge to claim many more lives. Far more people could be at risk of contracting the human form of mad cow disease than previously thought after new evidence emerged that the condition could lie dormant for years before developing. [News Source]

More people at risk from vCJD. Many more people may be at risk of contracting a variant of Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease than previously thought, according to new research. [News Source]

In Japan, Aussie beef makes a comeback. Australian beef industry has been the biggest beneficiary from the serious troubles U.S. beef is facing in regaining consumer acceptance in Japan. [News Source]

Tagging tests ranchers. Under NAIS, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will require all livestock owners -- even those with just one or two animals -- to electronically tag all livestock on their property and send that data to the federal government. [News Source]

vCJD cases ‘may be hidden in population.’ Many more people could be at risk of contracting the human form of mad cow disease than previously thought, scientists have claimed. [News Source]

Genencor looking to Europe. Genencor International Inc. is preparing to launch a product in Europe that can cleanse medical instruments of the biological contaminants that cause mad cow disease. [News Source]

Mad cow shows sharp drop. In good news on the health front, a United Nations agency has reported an annual 50 per cent drop worldwide over the past three years in cases of Bovine Spongiform Encepalopathy, or mad cow disease. [News Source]