The US government applauded steps by Malaysia to reopen its market to US beef imports after a lengthy ban imposed to keep out mad cow disease.

"We welcome this news from the Malaysian government. This is a good first step toward resuming normal US beef trade with Malaysia," Trade Representative Rob Portman said in a statement.

"We now urge the Malaysian government to fully restore US beef exports by further expansion of product coverage and exporter eligibility so that additional types of quality US beef can be enjoyed by Malaysian consumers."

According to Portman's office, Malaysia is resuming imports of US beef from cattle aged under 30 months to fall in step with other Asian nations that have recently lifted their own bans on US beef.

The bans were imposed in late 2003 after a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, was discovered in a herd in Washington state.

Less than 30 months old

The Malaysian press said the ban on US beef was being lifted to make up for a shortage caused by restrictions placed on Australian and New Zealand beef imports.

"We will be cautious with the (US) beef imports. We insisted that the meat must come from cattle less than 30 months old," Agriculture Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was quoted as saying in the Star daily.

Malaysia suspended beef imports from nine Australian abattoirs in mid-2005 after deciding it was not slaughtered to Islamic requirements.

In 2003, before the ban took effect, the United States exported US$1.9 million worth of beef and beef products to Malaysia. More than half of that was boneless beef.