May 17, 2007

Japan declines US request to end beef imports age limit

Japan has disapproved the US request to eliminate a cattle age limit on American beef imports, Japanese officials said Wednesday (May 16).

US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns has asked Japanese agriculture minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka to recognise the expected decision of the World Organization for Animal Health, known as the OIE, to allow US beef exports regardless of cattle age, the officials said.

Matsuoka, as quoted by Kyodo news agency, said Japan has already considered beef import conditions in accordance to its own specific procedures and stressed the OIE ruling wouldn't lead Japan to change its conditions.

Japan has limited imports of US cattle from 20 months or less due to mad cow disease concerns.