September 13, 2005

Japan says US cattle exposed to higher risk of mad cow disease

Japan's Food Safety Commission panel said US cattle were exposed to a higher risk of BSE, or mad cow disease, compared with their Japanese counterparts due to inadequate feed control in the US during the previous two decades.

This concern was one consideration in the panel's discussion on whether it was safe to lift Japan's ban on US beef imports.

The panel reportedly said the extent of feed contamination in the US during the 1980s and 1990s was up to 10 times that of Japan.

However, the panel also reportedly said the higher exposure to BSE did not immediately mean US beef was riskier.

The US has banned the feeding of infected cattle remains to other cattle since 1997, knowing that BSE could spread through this practice.

While the US has been urging Japan to quickly resume American beef imports, Japan said it needed to follow proper bureaucratic procedures.