Animal health supervision officers of Beijing have confiscated 60 cartons of beef from Canada which has been hit by mad cow disease.

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In a recent inspection tour to a warehouse of a wholesale center at Yuquanying near the southern third ring road, workers of Beijing Animal Health Supervision Institute found a wholesale businessman identified by his surname as Ma stored 60 cartons of beef imported from Canada, weighing more than 2,000 kg.

The cartons of beef with the label "produced in 2005 and 2006" had a market value of 200,000 yuan (about 25,000 US dollars), the Beijing Times reported.

Canada has been hit by an outbreak of mad cow disease during the period.

The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and the State Administration of Quality Supervision and Quarantine issued a decree banning direct or indirect import of beef from Canada beginning from May 22, 2003.

Ma violated the decree to trade in the imported beef from Canada and relevant stipulations in Animal Epidemic Prevention Lawof China, so the beef should be confiscated and be destroyed, said the supervision officers.

Animal health supervision officers also seized beef imported from Brazil with mad cow disease fear in a separate investigation tour made on Dec. 15, 2006 to the same warehouse.

The animal health supervision officers pledged to tighten investigation in the future and make sure that all processed animal products free of pandemic fears in the city.