May 19, 2004

Japanese And US Beef Experts Visit Meat Testing Facility

U.S. and Japanese government officials visited a meat market facility in Tamamura, Gunma Prefecture, on Tuesday to have a first-hand look at the testing of slaughtered cattle for mad cow disease.

A group of 20 officials, including some from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the U.S. Agriculture Department, observed meat experts taking samples, and removing the spinal cord as well as other parts considered dangerous from cattle carcasses at the wholesale meat market in Tamamura.