September 27, 2010

Japan to restart beef trade talks with Canada

Japan will resume beef trade talks with Canada for the first time in about three years, Japanese farm and health officials said Friday (Sep 24).

The two countries will hold working-level talks in Montreal on Oct. 1 to discuss restrictions on Canadian beef imports Japan imposes out of mad cow concerns.

The two sides will swap opinions about Canadian measures against the disease, formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE.

Japanese officials will visit three beef-processing facilities in Quebec to examine if they comply with rules on Japanese-bound shipments.

Japan currently limits beef imports from Canada to veal from cattle aged 20 months or younger due to BSE fears. Canada is calling on Japan to lift or ease the curbs.

Earlier this month, Japan resumed similar beef trade talks with the US for the first time in about three years.