Japan to halt U.S. beef imports

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http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200601200341.html

 

Japan to halt U.S. beef imports

01/20/2006

 

The Asahi Shimbun

 

The government will halt imports of beef from the

United States following the discovery Friday of a

cattle part considered at high risk of transmitting

bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), farm minister

Shoichi Nakagawa said.

 

The decision comes hot on the heels of Tokyo's move in

December to lift a two-year ban on U.S. beef imports.

The ban was imposed in December 2003 following the

discovery of BSE in the United States.

 

Ministry officials said spinal column parts were found

in three of 41 boxes of U.S. beef that arrived at

Narita Airport.

 

" If it is indeed a risky portion, it is against the

import program and quite regrettable, " Nakagawa told

reporters.

 

He said his ministry will conduct a thorough

investigation and will lodge a complaint with

Washington if the suspicious portion does indeed turn

out to be from a risky animal part.

 

Removing high-risk parts, such as the brain, spinal

cord and spinal column, was one of the conditions for

Japan agreeing to a resumption of beef imports.

 

The United States generally removes risky portions

from cattle aged 30 months or older. But Japan's

condition for resuming imports was to remove those

parts from cattle of all ages. Imports have also been

limited to meat from cattle aged 20 months or younger,

which is less likely to be infected.

 

Nakagawa called Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on

Friday to inform him that the ministry plans to halt

all U.S. beef imports. Koizumi agreed, and instructed

Nakagawa to consult the health ministry and to take

" appropriate measures. "

 

But criticism is bound to be directed at the

government for resuming imports in the first place

amid continued consumer anxiety over BSE, analysts

said.

 

To ease concerns, the government has sent animal and

food hygiene experts to the United States to make sure

Japan's conditions are being observed at U.S. ranches

and meat processing facilities.(IHT/Asahi: January

20,2006)