January 14, 2004

Japan Rejects Canada Request To End Beef Import Ban

Japan has rejected Canada's request to lift the prevailing beef ban in place as a result of the mad cow disease case last year.

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yoshiyuki Kamei conveyed the decision after Canadian Agriculture Minister Bob Speller briefed him on measures the Canadian government took to ensure the safety of the country's beef, ministry officials said, according to Kyodo.

"It is difficult to win the public understanding" for lifting the ban, Kamei was quoted as telling Speller, the report said.

Speller arrived in Tokyo earlier Tuesday on a mission aimed at persuading Japan to remove the import ban it imposed soon after Canada announced the discovery of its first case of mad cow disease last May.

It was confirmed last week that a U.S. cow found infected with the brain- wasting disease last December was born in Canada.

Japan has called on Canada to take thorough steps to ensure the safety of Canadian beef before it can lift the import ban.

Kamei has said he wants Canada "to test all cattle as the Japanese government does, or take measures that would have the same effect."

Speller announced last Thursday that testing for mad cow disease will increase to about 8,000 cattle a year from 5,500. He said the increased testing should be sufficient to restore confidence in Canadian beef.

Humans can contract a form of the disease, which is formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, by eating infected meat.