Japan and the United States began two-days of working-level talks Wednesday in Tokyo to discuss import restrictions on U.S. beef.
The focus is whether Japan will consider easing the limit on beef from cattle aged 20 months old or younger, a measure stemming from concern about mad cow disease.
Officials and experts from both sides will use scientific data to examine whether it is safe to import meat from older American cattle, including cattle under 30 months old. The two countries plan to compile a report as early as next month based on the results of their discussions, the officials said.
The meeting comes after the World Organization for Animal Health, which is known as the OIE and deals with safety standards for preventing mad cow disease, gave the green light last month for the U.S. to export beef regardless of the age of the cattle.
Japanese officials have said any possibility of Japan's easing the age limit would be based on scientific study and in response to public health concerns.
The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry and the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry are taking part in the talks with representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Japan banned U.S. beef after the first U.S. case of mad cow disease, the brain-wasting condition also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, was discovered in America in December 2003. The ban was briefly lifted in 2005, and finally removed last July.
The focus is whether Japan will consider easing the limit on beef from cattle aged 20 months old or younger, a measure stemming from concern about mad cow disease.
Officials and experts from both sides will use scientific data to examine whether it is safe to import meat from older American cattle, including cattle under 30 months old. The two countries plan to compile a report as early as next month based on the results of their discussions, the officials said.
The meeting comes after the World Organization for Animal Health, which is known as the OIE and deals with safety standards for preventing mad cow disease, gave the green light last month for the U.S. to export beef regardless of the age of the cattle.
Japanese officials have said any possibility of Japan's easing the age limit would be based on scientific study and in response to public health concerns.
The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry and the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry are taking part in the talks with representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Japan banned U.S. beef after the first U.S. case of mad cow disease, the brain-wasting condition also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, was discovered in America in December 2003. The ban was briefly lifted in 2005, and finally removed last July.
No comments:
Post a Comment