The decision, confirmed by a ministry press official in Brasilia, follows Egypt's ban of beef on Monday from Parana state, where a cow that died two years ago had developed atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease.

MSN: Saudi Arabia bans Brazil beef imports on mad cow doubts

One unexpected revelation was that France had offered to consider allowing beef from Scotland to be imported again where grass-fed herds could be shown never to had any contact with BSE or mad cow disease.

BBC: French feel the heat in beef row