No Japanese Reversal of Beef Ban Likely Soon

Despite the upbeat comments of U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman and others, don’t count on the Japanese ban on U.S. beef being lifted anytime soon.

“The word on this side of the debate is that the Japanese are bending and that they will soon comply with American demands that testing be limited only to cattle older than 20 months of age,” says Dr. Walt Prevatt, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System economist and Auburn University professor of agricultural economics. “In that case, there appears to be come misinformation from somewhere, because these aren’t the sentiments being expressed by Japanese officials. Everything the U.S. government is putting out is being refuted by the Japanese.”

What is certain is that Japan’s Food and Safety Commission concluded on Sept. 9 that testing is effective for cattle 20 months and older. However, the commission will defer to health and agriculture ministries for the final decision.

According to a report published recently in the Western Livestock Journal, Members of the Japanese Democratic Party as well as officials with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries have indicated that last month’s USDA announcement claiming an end to the impasse was premature. Veneman’s claim that Japan was crafting a plan to exempt younger cattle from BSE testing was specifically singled out by agriculture officials.

“This is not factual,” said Mamoru Ishihara, vice minister of MAFF, in an Aug. 26 press conference.

Some observers attribute the impasse to Japanese stalling pending the outcome of the U.S. presidential elections in November.

Posted by Jim Langcuster at September 10, 2004 02:52 PM | TrackBack