April 21, 2004

Japan Rejects U.S. Arguments On Mad Cow Testing
 
Japanese officials have on Wednesday has rejected arguments in a U.S. trade report that testing of all slaughtered cattle is not necessary to protect against mad cow disease. And it will retain its ban on imports of U.S. beef until such testing is done.
 
In its reply to the U.S. report, the government reiterated its position that testing all slaughtered cattle, as Japan is currently doing, is a necessary condition for it to lift its import ban. The U.S. has proposed seeking a settlement via the Paris-based Organization for Animal Health.