June 18, 2004

Japan May Exclude Veal From US Beef Import Ban
 

The government is thinking of partially lifting its ban on U.S. beef imports to allow imports of veal from the United States, Japanese newspapers reported Friday.

The idea will be discussed at a working-level meeting of experts from the two countries starting June 28 in the United States, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun said. The talks are aimed at resolving differences over the import ban Japan imposed late last year following the discovery of mad cow disease in the United States.

The two countries remain at odds on conditions for lifting the ban, with Japan insisting on inspection of all cattle whose meat is bound for the country and the United States refusing to carry out such inspections.

Japan instituted checks on all slaughtered cattle following domestic outbreaks of mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Some experts have suggested that veal from calves no older than 20 months would be safe because there are no reported cases of cattle that young contracting BSE.

If the negotiations go well, Japan could partially lift its import ban by year-end, though high levels of concern among Japanese consumers about the safety of U.S. beef could make such a view too optimistic, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said.

The Asahi said U.S. veal is likely to be imported into Japan by the end of the year if agreement is reached and Japan's Food Safety Commission gives its approval. It said there will be another working-level expert meeting in late July and a higher-level meeting in early August.

Japan may at first limit veal imports to muscle, taking the view that safety can be ensured without inspections as muscle flesh is believed to be free from BSE-causing abnormal prions, the daily said.