Japan reopens market to U.S. beef

Japan reopens market to U.S. beef    The Japanese government said Sunday it will reopen its market to U.S. beef imports.
   Japan and numerous other countries stopped accepting U.S. beef shipments in late December 2003 after the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed that a Washington state cow was infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or “mad cow” disease. The brain-wasting disease may be transmitted through infected beef to humans.
   Since then, USDA has devised numerous measures to assure overseas consumers that American-raised beef is safe. The Japanese government was one of the toughest critics of the U.S. beef management system.
   “Resuming beef trade with Japan is great news for American producers and Japanese consumers, as well as an important step toward normalized trade based on scientifically sound, international recognized standards,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns in a statement Sunday.
   The U.S. changes to beef oversight were evaluated by Japan’s Food Safety Commission; Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; and Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
   Under its new agreement with Japan, the United States is able to export beef from cattle 20 months of age or younger to Japan. The USDA said more than 94 percent of total U.S. beef products, with a value of $1.7 billion (in 2003), are again eligible for export to Japan. The United States exported $1.4 billion in beef to Japan in 2003, making it the U.S. beef industry’s largest overseas market by value.
   “We are very happy this long process has finally come to a conclusion and U.S. beef can once again be exported to Japan,” said Philip M. Seng, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, in a statement. “This has been a trying time for us, but also especially challenging to the many Japanese companies and individuals who have both relied on and also enjoyed our products for nearly three decades.”
   With the opening of Japan, 67 countries have re-established trade to at least selected U.S. beef and beef products. Still a handful of important Asian markets remain closed.
   “Now is the time for Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and others to open their markets to U.S. beef,” Johanns said.