Japan gives OK for U.S. beef 

From staff Reports

Dec. 15, 2005 - The Japan Food Safety Commission (FSC) has concluded that U.S. beef is safe for Japanese consumers, according to a final report issued from the commission on Dec. 8.

FSC’s final report to the government recommends lifting the ban on the import of beef from cattle aged up to 20 months. Such animals are considered to be a low risk of having bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

�This stringent regulatory review by the FSC now allows Japan�s Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare (MHLW) to re-open the Japanese market, while consumers can be confident that a stringent Japan regulatory process has determined U.S. beef is safe,� noted Phillip M. Seng, president and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

Livestock Marketing Association pointed out a new survey of Japanese consumers finds 75 percent of them are unwilling to eat U.S. beef, while 21.2 percent said they’d consume it.

The ban was lifted Dec. 12, allowing U.S. beef back into Japanese shops as early as the end of the year. Japan banned U.S. beef in December 2003 after the discovery of the first U.S. case of BSE, halting annual trade worth some $1.4 billion.

�The U.S. beef industry looks forward to supplying safe beef to the Japanese market that meets the stringent regulatory criteria of Japan and U.S. regulators,� Seng said.

�� � U.S. beef industry officials have maintained their product is safe, while Japanese officials have voiced concern that U.S. procedures for monitoring cattle for BSE are ineffective.

�� � On Dec. 5, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said they have tested a total of 21,216 cows that appeared to be completely healthy, and have found no positive cases of BSE. Since USDA began its enhanced surveillance program on June 1, 2004, a total of 534,879 sick, injured, or dead cattle have been tested, and out of those, two cows have been found to be infected with BSE.

�� � In mid-November, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said he wants the department to continue testing about 1,000 cattle a day.

�� � Japan has had its share of cattle with BSE, too; and stringent industry standards are now in place there.

�� � �The FSC thoughtfully and thoroughly reviewed Japan�s own bovine spongiform encephalopathy policies and procedures and recommended changes, which were later accepted by the government of Japan,� Seng said on Dec. 8. �It then undertook an equally rigorous examination of U.S. beef production procedures and protocols designed to ensure the safety of the beef products we produce for our Japanese customers.�

�� � When Japan reopens its beef markets to U.S. product, only about 15 percent of total U.S. slaughtered cattle will be eligible for export, added Lynn Heinze, USMEF public relations officer, on Dec. 7. Figures from USDA detailed an estimated 615,000 head of U.S. cattle and calves were slaughtered during the week of Nov. 28; so 15 percent of this would be 92,250 head.

�� � Eligible cattle must be documented through USDA�s Agricultural Marketing Service programs to be younger than 20 months of age either through a Bovine Export Verification program, or through what is known as an A40 process, Heinze said. The A40 process is a system of judging maturation characteristics of the carcass and usually identifies cattle that are about 17 months of age or younger.