September 27, 2010

Japan-US beef talks hold still

The new agricultural minister in Japan re-affirmed this week that Japan will review the US/Japan beef import protocols based on its own scientific assessment.

The US and Japan held a two-day working level meeting last week, discussing their respective BSE countermeasures. The US made no specific request for easing the current age restrictions (all beef must be sourced from cattle under 21 months of age) during the meeting, according to reports.

Beef imports from the US into Japan totalled 43,088 tonnes swt from January to July this year, up 22% from a year ago, but still only 28% of the pre-BSE levels in 2003.