Japan to reopen border to U.S. beef in mid-December

[Manitoba_Rancher]

Japan to reopen border to U.S. beef in mid-December, ambassador says

by John Gregerson on 12/5/2005 for Meatingplace.com




Japanese Ambassador to the United States Ryozo Kato indicated to members of the American Meat Institute that Japan will reopen its market to U.S. beef in mid-December, now that the public comment period on Japan's risk assessment of U.S. beef has ended.

With the Japanese government due to announce conditions for resuming importation of U.S. beef, AMI also discussed with Kato the need for both countries to move promptly on the issue of Japan's so-called 21-month rule, which would only allow U.S. beef product from younger animals.

 

[Sandhusker]

Now we'll see if the Japanese consumer chooses our product.

SH, I remember not long ago you stated US consumers would be unhappy if another country's product from us ( beef to Japan) was treated any differently than our product to them here. Any updates? When should we expect a "21 month revolt"?

 

[Sandhusker]

Don't be ignoring me, SH. I'm making marketing plans here. I need to know when a market disruption may occur. :wink: Consumers blowing a gasket over preferential treatment could cause big problems.

 

[Sandhusker]

SH, where are you?

 

[Tommy]

Vast majority of Japanese don't want US beef

Yahoo! News

December 6, 2005

Agence France Presse



TOKYO (AFP) - Most Japanese say they will not eat US beef when it re-enters the lucrative market this month after a two-year ban due to cases of mad cow disease.



Some 75.2 percent of Japanese surveyed by Kyodo News said they were unwilling to eat US beef against only 21.2 percent who were willing.



The reluctance towards US beef was especially strong among women, who often make household shopping decisions in Japan. Nearly 83 percent of Japanese women plan to avoid US beef, compared with 67 percent of men, the poll said.



Of the Japanese who plan to shun US beef, some 62.5 percent cited health concerns and another 20.6 percent said they could easily buy domestic or Australian beef instead, according to the poll, which surveyed 1,009 people over the weekend.



Japan could give the final green light to US and Canadian beef imports within days after an official panel said North American beef posed little danger if the cattle were killed young and the risky body parts removed.



Japan was the biggest overseas market for US beef before the ban was imposed in December 2003 when mad cow was discovered in a US herd.



The United States had put intense pressure on its close ally to open up the market. US farm-state senators had pressed for sanctions worth 3.1 billion dollars on Tokyo -- which they said were the cattle industry's losses due to Japan in 2004 -- unless it ended the ban by the year-end.



The United States itself bans Japanese beef. Japan in 2001 became the only Asian nation to discover BSE in its herd and -- unlike the United States -- now screens every cow slaughtered for consumption regardless of age