March 2, 2004

Japan Calls for US Government Involvement In Cattle Testing

Japanese officials have called for the US government involvement in mad cow disease testing before resuming US beef imports to Japan.

Mamoru Ishihara, vice minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, referred to the need for the U.S. Agriculture Department to play a role in tests of all cattle following news reports on the move by the company.

"Involvement of the US government is needed because this issue concerns quarantine procedures by countries," Ishihara said.

"We welcome the move if things really go in that direction," he said, adding he had no information beyond the reports.

Ishihara also said he hopes Washington will take measures in line with Tokyo's tougher safeguard policy -- testing all cattle for mad cow disease -- before a decision is made by Tokyo on whether to lift its ban on U.S. beef imports.

According to media reports, Kansas-based Creekstone Farms Premium Beef LLC has offered to test all its cattle for mad cow disease at its processing plant in Arkansas City in an attempt to resume Japan-bound exports.

Creekstone deals in premium beef at the higher end of the price scale and the company believes it will be able to transfer the cost of the inspection to the price of the products. The reports said the U.S. Agriculture Department has acknowledged receiving the offer from the company but has not responded.