News Update

News Update
Jan. 24, 2006

U.S. Defends Beef Inspection System

J.B. Penn, U.S. undersecretary for farm and agricultural services, met with Japanese officials today in Tokyo to reaffirm the safety of U.S. beef, just days after inspectors there discovered a shipment violating the U.S.-Japanese export agreement.

According to The Associated Press, Penn called the recent beef shipment an “isolated incident” from an inexperienced firm.

Penn said the U.S. food system is one of the safest in the world, and he expressed regret regarding the shipping mishap. Penn reassured his Japanese counterparts that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would thoroughly investigate the incident, the AP article reported.

South Korea Cancels Canadian Beef Talks

China’s Xinhua News Agency reported today that South Korea has canceled scheduled talks with Canadian officials on re-establishing Canadian beef imports.

According to the online service, the South Korean Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said it postponed the beef talks, originally set for February, due to yesterday’s announcement regarding a newly discovered case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in an Alberta 6-year-old, crossbred cow.

Japan Discovers 22nd BSE Case

The American Meat Institute (AMI) reported today that Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has confirmed the country’s 22nd case of BSE in a 64-month-old cow that died last week on a farm in northern Japan.
According to Reuters, a ministry official reported the Holstein cow would be destroyed and would not enter the market.
Japan reportedly maintains a 100% testing policy, testing all cattle for BSE prior to harvest.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, Angus Productions Inc.