March 22, 2006

Japan approves five more Canadian beef plants

Japanese inspectors have declared that five Canadian beef-processing plants are operating in compliance with conditions set for beef exports to Japan, according to local media reports.

This round of approvals brings the total number of Canadian plants eligible to export beef to Japan to nine. Japanese inspectors approved four other Canadian plants in December last year.

Last December, Japan resumed beef imports from Canada and the US under certain conditions, such as the beef must come from animals aged 20 months or younger and that specified risk materials like backbones must be removed. After backbone was found in a US veal shipment, Japan banned beef imports from the US again.