EU targets reopening of Japanese beef market

The European Union on Thursday (Feb 4) urged Japan to resume imports of European beef.

The two sides met for a working-level meeting on regulatory reforms, focusing on six areas including investment, financial services, fair competition in postal services and food safety.

The EU was frustrated at Japan's slow pace in examining whether to lift its ban on European beef imports, introduced after an outbreak of mad cow disease or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

The bloc also urged Japan to make its food safety inspection procedures more transparent.