February 25, 2005

Japan considers lifting US beef ban amid new infection in Japan

Japan says it will work towards lifting its ban on US beef imports to prevent retaliation from Washington, even as adead Hokkaido cow was confirmed positive for mad cow disease in a preliminary examination.

Twenty US senators have threatened sanctions unless Japan buys US beef again.

Japan stopped buying US beef over health concerns in December 2003 after a case of mad cow disease was found in Washington state.

Tokyo has agreed in principle to restart the multi-billion dollar trade, but is continuing technical discussions on how to test the animals for the potentially deadly disease.

Tokyo has checked every slaughtered cow before it enters the food supply since 2001, after its first discovery of BSE.