Brussels, 30/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Union is preparing to increase options to import fresh meat from a number of Latin American countries, due to the efforts made by these countries to eradicate foot and mouth disease. The standing committee on the food chain and animal health approved a proposal on Monday 30 June, which will: - include a new region of Argentina, known as "Patagonia North B" (and corresponding to parts of the provinces of Neuquén and Rio Negro), in the list of regions authorised to import bone-in fresh meat from ovine, caprine and bovine animals; - allow Brazilian operators in the states of Paraná and de São Paulo to export boned beef meat to the EU once again (in 2005, the EU imposed an embargo on imports of beef meat from these two Brazilian states due to outbreaks of foot and mouth disease); allow Paraguay to export boned beef meat (further to a positive inspection mission carried out by the Food and Veterinary Office of the EU). (L.C./trans.fl)