Japan close to ending U.S. beef processing plant inspections

Japan close to ending U.S. beef processing plant inspections The Japanese government is close to wrapping up a series of audits of U.S. beef processing plants before fully reopening its borders to U.S. beef imports.
   “I have invited Japan to begin the audits as soon as arrangements can be made,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, in a statement. “This is part of Japan’s verification that our process will provide them with safe beef products.
   “In response, once the verification process is complete, Japan will discontinue its requirement of inspecting 100 percent of the boxes of beef shipped from U.S. plants,” he added.
   Japan, like most countries, banned U.S. beef shipments after the U.S. Department of Agriculture acknowledged a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in a Washington state cow in late December 2003.
   The U.S. Meat Export Federation praised both Japanese and U.S. government officials for their efforts to resolve the inspection dilemma, and expects an increase in U.S. beef shipments to Japan once the processing plant audits are completed.
   “USMEF forecasts a doubling of U.S. beef exports compared to the current level as the ‘Zenpako Kensa” or 100 percent testing policy has been a hugely limiting factor to the pace of U.S. beef exports,” said Phil Seng, the federation’s president and chief executive officer.