Japan's Ag, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry confirmed the country's 30th case of BSE last month. The 64-month-old dairy cow died earlier this month in Hokkaido, being born before Japan implemented its ban on the feeding of meat-and-bone meal in fall 2001.

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic confirmed its 25th case of BSE, this time in a 72-month-old cow. It's the second BSE case diagnosed in 2006, after eight identified cases in 2005.