Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 10/15/10

Japan is analyzing the safety of U.S. beef from cattle older than 20 months as the United States continues to press for expanded access to the Tokyo market, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Tokyo’s Food Safety Commission would have to determine if lifting its 20-month restriction on imports of U.S. beef would put Japanese consumers at an increased health risk for diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy before making a change. The country’s position has been that older animals are at a higher risk for such diseases.

“We have to collect enough data before submitting a request to the Food Safety Commission for risk assessment,” Minoru Yamamoto, head of the Ministry of Agriculture’s international animal health affairs office, is quoted as saying. “We are seeking information from the U.S. and waiting for their replies.”
U.S. government representatives will visit Japan this week, with Agriculture Minister Michihiko Kano chairing a meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation members on the issue of food security, according to Bloomberg.

Washington would like to see Japan at least relax its age restrictions to 30 months as a step toward compliance with the World Organization for Animal Health’s standards. The body ruled in May 2007 to designate the United States as a “controlled-risk” region for BSE, meaning controls are effective and beef from U.S. cattle of any age is safe for trade.

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