April 25, 2008

Japan intensifies inspections of US beef imports
 

Japan has stepped up its inspections of US beef shipments after banned materials were discovered in shipments from California-based National Beef Packing Co.

The government is conduction random checks on US beef boxes more frequently, said officials from the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry.

The ministry also called on the US government to fully follow the requirements for exports to Japan.

Authorities have set a specific number of boxes to be checked, which increases in relation to the number of total boxes shipped.

The number to be inspected now is up to 80 boxes for between 501 to 1,200 boxes, while 125 boxes will be checked for imports exceeding 1,200 boxes, said officials from the agriculture ministry.

The Japan government suspended imports from the National Beef Packing plant, but said it does not plan to stop accepting shipments from the US.