August 4, 2006

 

US beef producers revving up for exports to Japan

 

 

US beef producers are moving quickly to resume exports to Japan now that the market is once again open.

 

At least one shipment is already on the way to Japan, and deals are being made for more just a week after the country eased its ban on US beef.

 

The US Department of Agriculture has confirmed that the first exports--comprised of a 418-box and a 344-box component totaling about 25,000 pounds--has been approved for shipment to Japan.

 

Cargill Meat Solutions, a division of Cargill Inc, is shipping beef to Japan via air and ocean cargo, spokesman Mark Klein said Thursday (Aug 3). The beef being sent by air freight is expected to arrive in Japan on Sunday, Klein said.

 

Separately, Libby Lawson, a spokeswoman for Tyson Foods Inc, said the company booked a beef order from Japan on Wednesday.

 

Creekstone Farms Premium Beef LLC is also hard at work trying to get back into the Japanese market, spokeswoman Jamie Brown said.

 

Japan was once the largest market for US beef, buying US$1.4 billion worth in 2003. But in December of that year, the US found its first case of mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

 

Japan banned US beef and did not open its market until Dec2005. About a month later Japan re-instated the ban because one US producer included prohibited material in a shipment. Japan again opened its beef market to the US on Jul 27.

 

Restrictions on US beef are tight, though. Japan continues to accept US beef only if it comes from cattle slaughtered before reaching 21 months of age, a rule the USDA agreed to even though officials say it is unnecessary.