U.S. beef imports to resume Monday
December 7th, 2005
12/07/2005
The Asahi Shimbun
The government Monday will lift the two-year ban on U.S. beef imports despite consumers’ doubts that U.S. measures can eliminate the risk of meat tainted by mad cow disease.
Officials said once the decision is finalized Monday, importers will be allowed to start buying U.S. beef, making it available to Japanese consumers around the Christmas holidays.
The Cabinet Office’s Food Safety Commission on Thursday is expected to report to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare that the risk of mad cow disease in the U.S. beef imports “is extremely low.”The government will only allow U.S. beef from cattle 20 months old or younger, as long as safety measures, including the removal of high-risk parts, are observed.
Despite the commission’s report, consumers are wary.
According to an Asahi Shimbun survey in late October, 67 percent of consumers said they would not eat U.S. beef if the ban is lifted.
Even the Food Safety Commission has heard the safety concerns directly from the public.
The commission received several thousand responses by Nov. 29 after soliciting public opinions about U.S. beef imports.
Many consumers questioned if the United States and its safety measures can ensure its beef carries no risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, the officials said.
Critics have said Tokyo’s move to lift the ban despite such concerns shows that it is simply kowtowing to U.S. pressure.
Tokyo intends to reach an agreement on the beef imports with Washington by Sunday, the officials said. In fact, Japan already informed the United States about the resumption schedule for U.S. beef imports during working-level talks, and has unofficially concluded talks about the conditions for lifting the ban.
The government will explain the contents of the Food Safety Commission’s report to the ruling coalition parties on Friday, the officials said.
After the announcement is made Monday, the government will immediately dispatch experts on animal quarantine and food hygiene to conduct safety checks at several meat-processing plants in the United States, the officials said.
The central government also intends to hold meetings at nine locations nationwide by Dec. 16 to explain the decision to resume U.S. beef imports.(IHT/Asahi: December 7,2005)
Source: asahi.com
Entry Filed under: Nutrition News
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