Japan Opens Border to U.S. Beef

Japan Opens Border to U.S. Beef
Dec. 12, 2005

The Japanese market is now open to U.S. beef products, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns announced early this morning.

“Resuming beef trade with Japan is great news for American producers and Japanese consumers, as well as an important step toward normalized trade based on scientifically sound, internationally recognized standards,” Johanns said.

According to the agreement announced today, the United States is able to export beef from cattle 20 months of age and younger to Japan. More than 94% of total U.S. ruminant and ruminant products, with a total export value of $1.7 billion in 2003, are now eligible for export to Japan, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported.

Johanns thanked those involved in opening the border and offered hope for similar action in other countries.

“Japan’s action today sets an excellent example for other countries in Asia whose markets remain closed,” Johanns said. “Now is the time for Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and others to open their markets to U.S. beef. I urge all countries to take a science-based approach and adopt OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) standards for allowing beef trade.”

In 2003, the United States exported $1.4 billion worth of beef and beef products to Japan. USDA reports that, with the opening of Japan, 67 countries have now established trade to at least selected U.S. beef and beef products.

USDA Amends Regulations for Japanese Imports

In related news, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced that it is amending regulations governing the importation of meat and other edible animal products to reestablish, under certain conditions, the importation of whole cuts of boneless beef from Japan. According to APHIS, this final rule will continue to safeguard the United States against the introduction of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

Recently, Japan requested that APHIS consider resuming the importation of beef from Japan to the United States, an action prohibited since September 2001. In a Federal Register notice published Aug. 18, 2005, APHIS proposed to amend the import regulations by allowing the importation of whole cuts of boneless beef from Japan under specified conditions. The regulations will be amended under this final rule.

This final rule is scheduled for publication in the Dec. 12, 2005, Federal Register and becomes effective at 11:30 a.m. EST on Dec. 12, 2005.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, Angus Productions Inc.