11.   Lebanon is free of the mad cow disease because it does not import beef products from Britain or Ireland, authorities said Tuesday.

12.   Malaysia did not import beef from Japan between January and July this year, according to the latest statistics available.

13.   Megat Junid said although there is an increase in the price of chicken, it is still cheaper than fish and imported beef.

14.   Spain stopped importing British beef Friday because of mad cow disease and suggested the ban be extended to all European Union members.

15.   The EU also has refused to import beef from American-grown cattle fed with growth hormones.

16.   The European Union now imports only beef certified as hormone-free, a measure that has been ruled illegal by the World Trade Organization.

17.   In Japan, the government said it was instructing food companies to stop importing beef from Northern Ireland.

18.   But if a third country wanted to import British beef it would be able to apply to the commission for an exemption for the ban.

19.   China said Vietnam imported beef from Australia, New Zealand, the United States and France.

20.   Japan has been importing beef from Northern Ireland but not from the rest of the United Kingdom.