September 21, 2005

US bans Japanese beef over mad cow issue

In retaliation against Japan's ban on US beef, the US senate voted on Sep 20 to keep shipments of Japanese Kobe beef out of the US. Japan imposed 19 months ago a ban on US beef as a precaution against mad cow disease.

Senators said the votes were a signal of frustration with Japan, traditionally the no. 1 importer for US beef exports. The US cattle industry said it is losing US$100 million each month the Japanese market remains closed.

They also viewed Japan's continued ban as "unfair", given US's two mad cow cases compared to Japan's 20.

Kobe beef comes from Wagyu cattle massaged with sake and fed a diet enriched with beer. Japan shipped US$800,000 worth of the beef annually to US buyers.

Japan said US beef ban is in the hands of an independent food safety commission, though a sub-committee leader on the commission said last week that a draft report on US beef safety may be discussed soon.

In response to the senate's vote, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said the US needs to move forward toward accepting beef from Japan, to prepare for what he expects will be a decision soon by Japan to resume US beef imports.