June 16, 2006

Uruguay beef re-enters Japanese market after five-year ban

Uruguay has restarted beef exports to Japan after a five-year suspension, the government said on Thursday (Jun 16) in a statement.

The Japanese Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Ministry revised its internal legal order on Jun 5, to make Uruguay beef exports legal, the government said.

Japan closed its doors to Uruguayan beef, after a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2000. The disease was brought under control in a 2001 vaccination campaign.

Both countries agreed that the beef, which has to be heat treated, could only be imported from five Uruguayan farms which meet Japan's strict hygiene controls. Uruguay's Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing Ministry would be responsible for inspections of the farms.

Uruguay's beef exports have been rising steadily since 2003, increasing an average of 20 percent a year. In 2005 the country sold 462,000 tonnes with a total value of US$891 million.