June 15, 2006

Japan's opposition continue to oppose US beef

Opposition parties have urged Japan's government not to succumb to US pressure to resume beef imports.

The Democratic Party of Japan and three other opposition parties have held a rally to oppose resumption of American beef imports, claiming inadequate measures against mad cow disease.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi may resume US beef imports in order to please the US President without heeding concerns of the Japanese public about beef safety, said Ichiro Ozawa, the head of the Democratic Party.

Japan was the largest export market for US beef before it banned imports over concerns about mad cow disease.

30 US senators have written to Japan's prime minister, asking him to end Tokyo's embargo of US beef before his Jun 29 visit to Washington.

Before the ban, Japan bought 240,000 tonnes of US beef worth US$1.4 billion in 2003. Concerned over US retaliatory measures if delays continue, Japan is nearing a decision to resume US beef imports.

Last month, Japan accepted US mad cow preventive measures to avoid further violations of a beef agreement, however no time frame has been set for a resumption.

Japanese consumer groups are doubtful about the compliance of US meat plants with regards to Japanese safety concerns.

South Korea this week refused to restart shipments of US beef as its inspectors reported that seven out of 38 meat plants inspected do not meet their safety requirements.