Japanese Testing Reversal?

In what may turn out to be a major reversal, Japan is considering changing its rules on testing beef cattle for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, so-called mad cow disease --- a decision that could lead to the resumption of some U.S. beef imports.

Japan’s Food Safety Commission will make a recommendation today based on the findings of a team charged with studying prions, the protein elements linked with the disease. The team concluded that testing is effective on cattle 21 months or older, though it offered no opinion on younger animals.

An agreement to resume exports may be sealed on Sept. 21, when Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi meets with President Bush.

Japan imposed a ban on U.S. beef imports following the first positive U.S. detection of BSE, so-called mad cow disease, in December, 2003.

Posted by Jim Langcuster at September 8, 2004 10:45 AM | TrackBack