MANILA, Philippines ? The Department of Agriculture (D.A.) has lifted a ban on meat and bone meal imports from the US, saying the latter has a lessened risk of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or mad cow disease incidence.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said in a statement that the World Animal Health Organization or the Office International des Epizooties has adopted a resolution according the US a "controlled risk" status.

This means there has been no recent case of mad cow disease in the US or, if there had been a case, the infection was demonstrated to have come from outside and was completely destroyed.

Yap noted that the US Food and Drug Administration regulates the use of meat and bone meal in animal feed and has tightened restrictions to further decrease the risk of mad cow disease in the US.

In a copy of Memorandum Order No. 26, Yap also noted that the US currently exports MBM to Indonesia, Canada, Europe, South Africa, Malaysia, China, Mexico, Ecuador, Bangladesh, Thailand and Vietnam.

In late October, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said at a media briefing that the United States is keen on exporting bone meal and high-value vegetables to the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the Philippines wants to enter the US market for fresh bananas, mangoes and asparagus.

The issue of phytosanitary restrictions was among the topics of discussion Tuesday between Vilsack and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap during a briefing for the US Agribusiness Trade and Investment Mission in Makati City.

Vilsack and Yap said phytosanitary issues on these products are being addressed and the result will not depend on whether the Philippines allows the endtry of US bone meal and vegetables.