December 14, 2005

Japanese experts to inspect US beef export programmes

Japanese experts would visit the US to inspect whether American cattle growers and other beef export parties have improved their export programmes in line with Japan's requirements. The same would be done for Canada later.

The delegation would return to Japan on Dec 24 and issue a report to the Japanese government on Dec 26.

Japan has recently resumed imports of US and Canadian beef after a two-year ban due to mad cow disease, or BSE.

The inspection team would be divided into two groups and would visit slaughterhouses and meat packers, giving limited notice periods to the US and Canadian governments.

Beef imports from both countries would also be inspected at joint animal quarantine offices located at airports and seaports to ensure they are not contaminated by BSE, and come from cattle under 21 months of age, Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) said.

MAFF added that US and Canada planned to hold seminars at nine locations in Japan from mid-December to win back consumers' confidence in the imports.