Japan again

[kato]

japantoday > national

Gov't exempts young cows from blanket testing


Friday, October 15, 2004 at 15:47 JST
TOKYO — The farm and health ministries unveiled Friday a package of measures on mad cow disease which calls for exempting cows aged 20 months and younger from testing for the disease.

The removal of cows 20 months old and younger from testing is expected to open the door for a resumption of U.S. beef imports because most cows are slaughtered before that age in the United States. (Kyodo News)

[kato]

Here's another one.

TOKYO, Oct 15, 2004 (Kyodo via COMTEX) -- The farm and health ministries unveiled Friday a package of measures on mad cow disease which calls for exempting cows aged 20 months and younger from testing for the disease.

The package, presented to a governmental advisory panel for endorsement, paves the way for an end to blanket testing as well as for lifting the ban on imports of beef from affected countries such as the United States.

The Food Safety Commission in the Cabinet Office is expected to spend about two months for deliberations before endorsing the package, presented by the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry and the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.

Blanket testing was introduced in Japan in October 2001, one month after the first case of mad cow disease, known formally as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, was found in Japan.

Its discontinuation is being proposed on grounds that the existing examination method has difficulty detecting BSE in cows aged up to 20 months.

The removal of cows 20 months old and younger from testing is expected to open the door for a resumption of U.S. beef imports because most cows are slaughtered before that age in the United States.

On the testing, farm minister Yoshinobu Shimamura told a press conference earlier Friday the government plans to continue subsidizing the full costs for local governments that keep testing all cows locally.

While admitting the plan contradicts the proposed policy to discontinue all-cow testing, Shimamura said, "It is natural to give consideration to consumers' peace of mind and to the position of meat producers."

On talks with the United States regarding lifting Japan's ban on U.S. beef imports, Shimamura said Japan will soon begin arranging the schedule for new rounds of high-level talks between the two countries.

In the evening, health minister Hidehisa Otsuji apologized for making earlier comments that could be perceived as admitting that the plan to continue subsidizing local governments contradicts the proposed policy to discontinue testing all cows.

The comments, made at a morning news conference, "lacked an explanation and caused misunderstanding," Otsuji said at a press conference.

In the morning, Otsuji said, "All-cow testing that will continue by local governments after the revision of the current policy is aimed for such governments to enhance the value of beef products. The central government will cooperate with local governments on that. This can't be explained by reason."

Otsuji met reporters in the afternoon and explained that the morning comments reflected his concern that if the policy revision causes consumer concern, the value of beef -- even safe beef -- will decline without any specific reason.

"The point of my comments was that the government is willing to cooperate with local governments in taking measures that would prevent the value of such beef from declining," the health minister said.

Meanwhile, two consumer groups -- the Consumers Union of Japan and the Food Safety Citizens' Watch -- issued a joint statement to protest against the proposed revision to the current all-cow testing policy.

The proposal "ignores calls by consumers and producers across the nation for authorities to continue all-cow testing and remove specific body parts that have risks of causing BSE from cows," said the statement.

[jensend]

the japanese have already said that the us doesn't have a credible age verification system and the article said that the conditions applied to bse countries "like" the us so i hope we can take advantage of this development.

[farmers_son]

It is obvious that Japan will only accept U.S. beef when it is good and ready. The age thing is a masterful piece of negotiating. Compromise to the U.S. without compromising because the U.S. cannot verify age as Japan requires if they are to give on blanket testing.

Certainly Canada could learn from Japan when it comes to dealing with the U.S. We are obviously amateurs in the world of foreign affairs.

I think the remark by health minister Hidehisa Otsuji says it all. "The point of my comments was that the [Japanese] government is willing to cooperate with local governments in taking measures that would prevent the value of such beef from declining". It is about protectionism. Japan is restricting imports of beef so as to support the domestic price to its producers.

I guess that is another thing the Japanese could teach us about world affairs and trade. The importance of domestic agriculture and the need to ensure a healthy and viable farming industry. Japan knows it, the U.S. knows it, Canada is still trying to figure it out. Just ask Rutherford.