May 26, 2009

Japan intends to increase its beef exports by promoting bilateral negotiations, as an international body is expected to upgrade its safety rating for cows raised in the country.

Japan's beef exports fell sharply after the first case of mad cow disease was discovered in the country in 2001.

Japanese beef exports fell to only 23 tonnes in 2002, less than one-seventh of the level before the outbreak.

Japan currently exports beef mainly to the US, Canada, Hong Kong, UAE and Singapore.

After the number of BSE cases fell to only one in 2008, Japan requested the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) to reevaluate the safety of Japanese beef.

At a general assembly meeting that started Sunday (May 24) in Paris, the OIE looked certain to approve Japan as a country with controlled BSE risks that can export regardless of cattle age, in line with its science committee's conclusion.

Given the imminent upgrading of the safety rating, Japan will accelerate negotiations with Russia and the Philippines to resume beef exports to those two countries, said the Vice Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.