April 24, 2008

Japan suspends imports of California beef

Japan has recently halted the purchase of beef from a Californian beef plant, the National Beef Packing Co., after a beef part linked to mad cow disease was found, the Ministry of Agriculture said Wednesday.

It was the first case since Japan re-opened its market to the US in July 2006.

The latest suspension was announced on Tuesday when the importing company, Itochu Corp. and meat packers, reported that a box of borne-in short loin was mixed into 700 boxes registered as short plate in US documents.

An investigation by Japan's municipal governments found that the box, not in the US documents, included vertebral column, a type of specific risk materials (SRM) which are banned, and that no particular problem was found in the other boxes.

The US embassy replied Wednesday that the destination of the box was not Japan and that further investigation was taking place.

Japan's ministry official said that the resumption of beef imports from the plant is on hold for further clarification.

Japanese retailer Daiei Inc. said it would suspend sales of US beef it imported from the National Beef plant.