Japan To End Renewed U.S. Beef
Ban In July; Conditions Apply
By Richard Smith
TOKYO — Following teleconferences Tuesday morning and evening U.S. time, the Japanese government agreed on Wednesday to resume U.S. beef imports in July.
However, tougher rules will apply to prevent incidents such as happened on January 20, when backbone was discovered in a veal shipment from Atlantic Veal and Lamb of Brooklyn, New York. Spinal column is banned under anti-BSE export to Japan rules.
The mishap prompted the Japanese government to reinstate a ban on U.S. beef it had lifted the previous month, after a two-year interdiction because of BSE.
The Japanese government agreed to import resumption under the following conditions:
— Before exports are resumed, Japanese government inspectors will spend about a month checking 35 export centers around the U.S.;
— After export resumption, Japanese government inspectors will accompany USDA inspectors at surprise inspections of beef processing plants;
— Toughening of inspections of U.S. beef imports at all Japanese ports of entry.
Opposition parties and consumer groups criticized the decision, the Japanese press agency Kyodo reported. U.S. beef safety is totally entrusted to the U.S. and there is no way of proving it, Social Democratic Party leader Ms. Mizuho Fukushima said at a press conference.
Kyodo reported Fuskushima said the beef trade agreement and recent moves by the Japanese, such as a decision to expand airlift operations of Japan's Self-Defence Force in Iraq on behalf of the U.N., may be seen as a political gift to U.S. President George W. Bush before the two meet in Washington on June 29.
"The lives and taxes of the Japanese people are used for this gift," she said.
Kyodo reported that Akira Koike, Japanese Communist Party policy chief, said in a statement that the government has given preference to a U.S. demand to an end for a beef ban over the safety of the Japanese people to realize a gift for Koizumi's upcoming U.S. visit.
Chief cabinet secretary Shinziro Abe dismissed the criticism, Kyodo reported. "We reached an agreement today as a result of Japan-U.S. negotiations, and have gone through the necessary process with food safety in mind."
Consumers Union of Japan sent a protest statement to Koizumi, saying "this conclusion was reached to meet a political negotiation schedule without prioritizing health as part of food safety administration," Kyodo reported.
"During meetings held across the country (at 10 locations from June 1 through 14) to exchange opinions on the issue, consumers raised questions about BSE and an overwhelming majority were against lifting the ban," CUJ said in the statement, Kyodo reported.
Kyodo reported the statement said "the government should have gathered opinions from consumers and citizens, and then sought a response from the U.S. We wonder why an agreement needed to be made so hastily."
Michiko Kamiyama, a lawyer who heads a group called Food Safety Citizens' Watch, said, "The government probably has no intention of opposing the U.S.," Kyodo reported.
"It did hold explanatory meetings for consumers, but paid no attention to opposing opinions. It was merely a useless ceremony," she said.
Masae Wada, an adviser to the Housewives' Association, said she feels U.S. pledges to prevent a recurrence of the backbone incident "are only paper procedures," Kyodo reported. The U.S. response to Japanese consumer concerns is "not backed by substantial assurance," she said.
Describing the U.S. safety examination system as "sketchy and lax," Wada said she feared beef from U.S. BSE-infected cattle could be used in processed foodstuffs, Kyodo reported.
Kyodo reported a 41 year-old man shopping with his wife also expressed a lack of trust in the safety of U.S. beef. "The U.S. has betrayed us once. We cannot say that the country will not make a mistake again," he said.
His wife said she would like U.S. meatpackers to voluntarily conduct blanket testing, Kyodo reported. "Even if beef prices go up, I would buy the product with a safety guarantee certificate," she said.
Zensho Co., which offers bowls of beef strips on rice at its Sukiya and Nakau restaurant chains, said it is not planning to use U.S. beef again soon, Kyodo reported. The company considers U.S. anti-BSE measures insufficient in terms of SRM removal and meat-and-bone meal restrictions.
"We cannot serve food which we do not want to eat. Even though the government says okay, we have product liability," said Naoki Fujita, the company's public relations office head, Kyodo reported.
Kyodo reported Zensho president Kentaro Ogawa inspected U.S. meatpackers last September and saw fluid from beef carcasses's spinal cords, an SRM, splashed in the plants.
Its a damn shame japan has to make sure the usda does their job,because they are controlled by AMI...............good luck
Ban In July; Conditions Apply
By Richard Smith
TOKYO — Following teleconferences Tuesday morning and evening U.S. time, the Japanese government agreed on Wednesday to resume U.S. beef imports in July.
However, tougher rules will apply to prevent incidents such as happened on January 20, when backbone was discovered in a veal shipment from Atlantic Veal and Lamb of Brooklyn, New York. Spinal column is banned under anti-BSE export to Japan rules.
The mishap prompted the Japanese government to reinstate a ban on U.S. beef it had lifted the previous month, after a two-year interdiction because of BSE.
The Japanese government agreed to import resumption under the following conditions:
— Before exports are resumed, Japanese government inspectors will spend about a month checking 35 export centers around the U.S.;
— After export resumption, Japanese government inspectors will accompany USDA inspectors at surprise inspections of beef processing plants;
— Toughening of inspections of U.S. beef imports at all Japanese ports of entry.
Opposition parties and consumer groups criticized the decision, the Japanese press agency Kyodo reported. U.S. beef safety is totally entrusted to the U.S. and there is no way of proving it, Social Democratic Party leader Ms. Mizuho Fukushima said at a press conference.
Kyodo reported Fuskushima said the beef trade agreement and recent moves by the Japanese, such as a decision to expand airlift operations of Japan's Self-Defence Force in Iraq on behalf of the U.N., may be seen as a political gift to U.S. President George W. Bush before the two meet in Washington on June 29.
"The lives and taxes of the Japanese people are used for this gift," she said.
Kyodo reported that Akira Koike, Japanese Communist Party policy chief, said in a statement that the government has given preference to a U.S. demand to an end for a beef ban over the safety of the Japanese people to realize a gift for Koizumi's upcoming U.S. visit.
Chief cabinet secretary Shinziro Abe dismissed the criticism, Kyodo reported. "We reached an agreement today as a result of Japan-U.S. negotiations, and have gone through the necessary process with food safety in mind."
Consumers Union of Japan sent a protest statement to Koizumi, saying "this conclusion was reached to meet a political negotiation schedule without prioritizing health as part of food safety administration," Kyodo reported.
"During meetings held across the country (at 10 locations from June 1 through 14) to exchange opinions on the issue, consumers raised questions about BSE and an overwhelming majority were against lifting the ban," CUJ said in the statement, Kyodo reported.
Kyodo reported the statement said "the government should have gathered opinions from consumers and citizens, and then sought a response from the U.S. We wonder why an agreement needed to be made so hastily."
Michiko Kamiyama, a lawyer who heads a group called Food Safety Citizens' Watch, said, "The government probably has no intention of opposing the U.S.," Kyodo reported.
"It did hold explanatory meetings for consumers, but paid no attention to opposing opinions. It was merely a useless ceremony," she said.
Masae Wada, an adviser to the Housewives' Association, said she feels U.S. pledges to prevent a recurrence of the backbone incident "are only paper procedures," Kyodo reported. The U.S. response to Japanese consumer concerns is "not backed by substantial assurance," she said.
Describing the U.S. safety examination system as "sketchy and lax," Wada said she feared beef from U.S. BSE-infected cattle could be used in processed foodstuffs, Kyodo reported.
Kyodo reported a 41 year-old man shopping with his wife also expressed a lack of trust in the safety of U.S. beef. "The U.S. has betrayed us once. We cannot say that the country will not make a mistake again," he said.
His wife said she would like U.S. meatpackers to voluntarily conduct blanket testing, Kyodo reported. "Even if beef prices go up, I would buy the product with a safety guarantee certificate," she said.
Zensho Co., which offers bowls of beef strips on rice at its Sukiya and Nakau restaurant chains, said it is not planning to use U.S. beef again soon, Kyodo reported. The company considers U.S. anti-BSE measures insufficient in terms of SRM removal and meat-and-bone meal restrictions.
"We cannot serve food which we do not want to eat. Even though the government says okay, we have product liability," said Naoki Fujita, the company's public relations office head, Kyodo reported.
Kyodo reported Zensho president Kentaro Ogawa inspected U.S. meatpackers last September and saw fluid from beef carcasses's spinal cords, an SRM, splashed in the plants.
Its a damn shame japan has to make sure the usda does their job,because they are controlled by AMI...............good luck