US Meat Export Chief: Hope Japan Loosens View On Beef
TOKYO (Dow Jones)--The Japanese government should reconsider its import regulations on U.S. beef, such as restrictions on meat with bones and should simplify its customs clearance process, Philip Seng, president of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, said Tuesday.
"Hopefully the Japanese government will look at its guidelines from a wider base," Seng said in a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo. "We look forward to when customs clearance is more rationalized," he said.
Japan banned the import of U.S. beef in 2003 right after the discovery of mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, in the U.S. Japan lifted the ban once last year only to prohibit imports again after the discovery of restricted spinal material in imported meat.
In July this year, Japan decided to resume import of U.S. beef under the condition that it won't accept meat with bones or meat from cows that are less than 20 months old. Japan used to be the biggest export market for U.S. beef with annual sales totaling well over $1 billion.
But the discovery of mad cow disease and the U.S. government's approach to Japan's appeals for safety checks caused many Japanese consumers to lose confidence in U.S. beef. Imported beef from Australia and New Zealand have gained market share in Japan since the ban.
Seng admitted there are challenges, but expressed confidence that Japan's consumers will resume buying U.S. beef. "U.S. beef may surpass over $1 billion in 2009. We expect to grow, because there are needs for products like beef tongue and Korean barbecue," Seng said. "However, we won't be displacing our competitors right away."
-By Tomoyuki Tachikawa, Dow Jones Newswires; 813-5255-2929; [email protected]
TOKYO (Dow Jones)--The Japanese government should reconsider its import regulations on U.S. beef, such as restrictions on meat with bones and should simplify its customs clearance process, Philip Seng, president of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, said Tuesday.
"Hopefully the Japanese government will look at its guidelines from a wider base," Seng said in a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo. "We look forward to when customs clearance is more rationalized," he said.
Japan banned the import of U.S. beef in 2003 right after the discovery of mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, in the U.S. Japan lifted the ban once last year only to prohibit imports again after the discovery of restricted spinal material in imported meat.
In July this year, Japan decided to resume import of U.S. beef under the condition that it won't accept meat with bones or meat from cows that are less than 20 months old. Japan used to be the biggest export market for U.S. beef with annual sales totaling well over $1 billion.
But the discovery of mad cow disease and the U.S. government's approach to Japan's appeals for safety checks caused many Japanese consumers to lose confidence in U.S. beef. Imported beef from Australia and New Zealand have gained market share in Japan since the ban.
Seng admitted there are challenges, but expressed confidence that Japan's consumers will resume buying U.S. beef. "U.S. beef may surpass over $1 billion in 2009. We expect to grow, because there are needs for products like beef tongue and Korean barbecue," Seng said. "However, we won't be displacing our competitors right away."
-By Tomoyuki Tachikawa, Dow Jones Newswires; 813-5255-2929; [email protected]