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Some Japanese demand U.S. inspection of each beef animal
By KANA INAGAKI/The Associated Press
Lincoln Journal Star
June 15, 2006
Nebraska, US
TOKYO — Opponents of U.S. beef imports to Japan accused the government of failing to ensure consumer safety, and demanded at a public hearing Wednesday that Washington inspect every cow that goes to slaughter for mad cow disease.
The hearing was the last of ten public meetings on the safety of U.S. beef, which was banned in January after inspectors found a shipment of American veal that violated Japanese import restrictions.
Japanese officials made a presentation to the crowd of about 400 people gathered in a Tokyo hall to show how safety steps would prevent the importation of American meat infected with mad cow disease.
The hearings are a prelude to final government deliberations on when to lift the ban. Washington has been pushing hard to resume selling to Japan, which was once U.S. beef’s most lucrative overseas market.
Hirofumi Kugita, an Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry official, assured the crowd that Tokyo would respond firmly to any more violations of Japan’s import law.
“If parts at risk for the disease are mixed in with other beef after the ban is removed, then we will of course take necessary measures such as to stop the import from the disputed facility,” he said.
Government assurances were met with scorn by vocal members of the crowd, who questioned the efficacy of U.S. safety measures and accused Tokyo of putting a higher priority on pleasing Washington, a top ally, than protecting its own citizens.
Some pointed to the lifting of a prior ban on U.S. beef, which was imposed after the discovery of mad cow — bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE — in 2003. That ban was lifted just last December, only to be reimposed in January.
“Last year, the import of US beef was resumed despite the fact that most people expressed opposition toward lifting the ban. I feel again that the resumption is still too early,” said Junko Takaya, of the BSE Citizens Network.
Other opponents called for the United States to adopt Japanese safety standards, which require the testing of every cow going to market for mad cow.
One activist called Tokyo the “lapdog” of the United States.
Japanese and U.S. officials wrapped up negotiations on U.S. beef safety steps in mid-May, but did not set a timetable for the resumption of the beef trade.
The U.S. has pushed to resume exports by the end of June, saying that they have taken sufficient steps to prevent the spread of disease. But Japanese officials said public meetings must be held first. They also asked for more information on U.S. meatpacking plants that export the beef.
The harsh consumer reaction at the hearing indicated how difficult it will be for U.S. beef to regain its market position in Japan. Since the 2003 ban, beef imports from Australia have boomed. Japan bought about $1.4 billion worth of U.S. beef in 2003.
Mad cow disease is a degenerative nerve disease in cattle. Eating contaminated meat products has been linked to the rare but fatal human variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
journalstar.com
By KANA INAGAKI/The Associated Press
Lincoln Journal Star
June 15, 2006
Nebraska, US
TOKYO — Opponents of U.S. beef imports to Japan accused the government of failing to ensure consumer safety, and demanded at a public hearing Wednesday that Washington inspect every cow that goes to slaughter for mad cow disease.
The hearing was the last of ten public meetings on the safety of U.S. beef, which was banned in January after inspectors found a shipment of American veal that violated Japanese import restrictions.
Japanese officials made a presentation to the crowd of about 400 people gathered in a Tokyo hall to show how safety steps would prevent the importation of American meat infected with mad cow disease.
The hearings are a prelude to final government deliberations on when to lift the ban. Washington has been pushing hard to resume selling to Japan, which was once U.S. beef’s most lucrative overseas market.
Hirofumi Kugita, an Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry official, assured the crowd that Tokyo would respond firmly to any more violations of Japan’s import law.
“If parts at risk for the disease are mixed in with other beef after the ban is removed, then we will of course take necessary measures such as to stop the import from the disputed facility,” he said.
Government assurances were met with scorn by vocal members of the crowd, who questioned the efficacy of U.S. safety measures and accused Tokyo of putting a higher priority on pleasing Washington, a top ally, than protecting its own citizens.
Some pointed to the lifting of a prior ban on U.S. beef, which was imposed after the discovery of mad cow — bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE — in 2003. That ban was lifted just last December, only to be reimposed in January.
“Last year, the import of US beef was resumed despite the fact that most people expressed opposition toward lifting the ban. I feel again that the resumption is still too early,” said Junko Takaya, of the BSE Citizens Network.
Other opponents called for the United States to adopt Japanese safety standards, which require the testing of every cow going to market for mad cow.
One activist called Tokyo the “lapdog” of the United States.
Japanese and U.S. officials wrapped up negotiations on U.S. beef safety steps in mid-May, but did not set a timetable for the resumption of the beef trade.
The U.S. has pushed to resume exports by the end of June, saying that they have taken sufficient steps to prevent the spread of disease. But Japanese officials said public meetings must be held first. They also asked for more information on U.S. meatpacking plants that export the beef.
The harsh consumer reaction at the hearing indicated how difficult it will be for U.S. beef to regain its market position in Japan. Since the 2003 ban, beef imports from Australia have boomed. Japan bought about $1.4 billion worth of U.S. beef in 2003.
Mad cow disease is a degenerative nerve disease in cattle. Eating contaminated meat products has been linked to the rare but fatal human variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
journalstar.com