April 26, 2007

California ranchers expects high beef exports to Japan

California cattle ranchers say they are expecting to see improvements in beef exports to Japan as trade talks between two parties appear to have made some developments.

The US has allowed Japanese inspectors to audit and analyse American meatpacking plants. Should plants pass the inspections, Japan will no longer inspect 100 percent of US beef shipments, said Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns.

California producers are currently sending beef to Japan on a weekly basis but volumes have stayed low since a case of mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE) was found in the US