May 18, 2007

Japan starts inspections in US meat plants

Japan has started its inspections on meatpackers' plants in the United States this week in accordance to the agreement the two nations have previously complied over beef exports.

Japan has sent three teams from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW) to inspect 29 packers in the US, including a plant seeking certification as a new exporter.

The teams are expected to return to Japan on May 28 and review the audit findings.

Last month, the two countries have discontinued the current requirement of a hundred percent inspection of shipments provided they have no problems. The lifting of 100 percent inspection--which have been lamented by importers as costly and time consuming--is seen to push up US import from the current 1,500 tonnes to 5,000 tonnes per month.

However, the volume of 5,000 tonnes per month is less than 25 percent on what Japan has imported from the US in 2003. Food safety concerns as well as high prices are likely to limit supply of price cuts--the main product Japan was importing from the US before the mad cow disease.

Though the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) is expected to upgrade the US' BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) risk status at its meeting next week, Japan will likely maintain its current under-21 month age restriction, pending their independent scientific assessment.