News Update

Japan to Resume Beef Trade
June 21, 2006

U.S. and Japanese officials have concluded months of negotiations, announcing an agreement to end Japan’s import ban on U.S. beef.

According to The Japan Times, government representatives from both countries began a lengthy teleconference Tuesday evening, which lasted well into the early morning hours. Complete details of the talks remain vague, but meatingplace.com reports that U.S. beef should reach Japanese markets by the end of next month once inspections are completed.

A report in The New York Times today quotes a representative from Japan’s agriculture ministry as saying the agreement “allows Japanese health and agricultural officials to directly inspect meatpacking plants in the United States, and to accompany American officials on their spot inspections.”

Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns said this morning Japanese audit teams will arrive in the U.S. as early as this weekend and conclude their work by July 21.

Upon completion of the audits, Japan has agreed to expeditiously resume beef trade.

“Ultimately, it is our goal to complete the Japanese audits with all plants that have met U.S. requirements to export beef to Japan being approved to do so at the same time,” Johanns said. “I cannot emphasize strongly enough the importance of Japan recognizing the U.S. food safety inspection system as a single, effective system and acting accordingly in resuming trade.

“When that occurs, my expectation is that minor noncompliance issues will not disrupt our entire trading relationship,” he continues. “Instead, Japan has agreed to notify us of such issues and discuss the appropriate course, such as the rejection of individual shipments, if appropriate.”

Japan’s requirements for trade — such as its demand for beef only from cattle 20 months old or younger, with at-risk materials removed — will remain in effect, according to The Japan Times.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) first announced Dec. 12, 2005, that Japan would resume beef imports. However, Japan halted imports Jan. 20, 2006, due to a shipment of frozen veal containing animal spines — a violation of the agreement to export U.S. beef from cattle 20 months of age and younger and free from a vertebral column.

“Japan has been conducting an exhaustive examination to confirm the safety of U.S. beef, and these audits must constitute the final step,” Johanns said. “We have instituted numerous changes in our system, answered every question posed by Japan, and delivered an abundance of factual, science-based assurances that U.S. beef is safe. It is time for beef trade to resume with Japan.”

— by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.