Inspectors Increasing Beef Inspection Rates

Japan

Inspectors Increasing Beef Inspection Rates

USMEF has been notified of plans to increase sampling rates by Japanese inspectors on U.S. beef exports to that country.  Due to the recent finding of product in nonconformance with the U.S. agreement with Japan, officials of both the health and welfare and agriculture ministries decided to step up their inspections for an undetermined length of time starting April 23 on all U.S. beef imports. Details have just become available.

Ministry of Health And Welfare (MHLW) Inspections:

USMEF understands that 12 U.S. facilities which, because they had provided more than 1,000 metric tons of U.S. beef exports to Japan, were subjected to reduced MHLW inspections in accordance with the regular residue and testing program, will now be tested at the same level of those facilities which had shipped between 100 metric tons and 1,000 metric tons to Japan without incident.  USMEF’s understanding is that this means inspections will be performed on 10 percent of their lots instead of the regular 4 percent to 5 percent of lots.

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Inspections:

MAFF has indicated that 22 U.S. plants which had advanced to Stage 2 — inspection level for plants with a history greater then 3,000 sampled boxes — will be returned to Stage 1. The import procedure for these facilities will thus slow down since the number of cartons inspected will be increased. For example, for shipments containing 501 to 1,200 boxes, 80 boxes are opened and inspected during Stage 1 compared to only 13 boxes in Stage 2.  USMEF will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as information becomes available.

Though delays have not been reported, it is anticipated that this increased level of inspection will create extra time and labor costs for Japanese importers. USMEF-Tokyo also fears the politicization of the inspection issue and that further errors and violations might interfere with U.S. efforts to gain expanded beef access to Japan.  USMEF urges exporters to be diligent in finding and eliminating any non-compliance in products destined for Japan.

 

Japan

Inspectors Increasing Beef Inspection Rates

USMEF has been notified of plans to increase sampling rates by Japanese inspectors on U.S. beef exports to that country.  Due to the recent finding of product in nonconformance with the U.S. agreement with Japan, officials of both the health and welfare and agriculture ministries decided to step up their inspections for an undetermined length of time starting April 23 on all U.S. beef imports. Details have just become available.

Ministry of Health And Welfare (MHLW) Inspections:

USMEF understands that 12 U.S. facilities which, because they had provided more than 1,000 metric tons of U.S. beef exports to Japan, were subjected to reduced MHLW inspections in accordance with the regular residue and testing program, will now be tested at the same level of those facilities which had shipped between 100 metric tons and 1,000 metric tons to Japan without incident.  USMEF’s understanding is that this means inspections will be performed on 10 percent of their lots instead of the regular 4 percent to 5 percent of lots.

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Inspections:

MAFF has indicated that 22 U.S. plants which had advanced to Stage 2 — inspection level for plants with a history greater then 3,000 sampled boxes — will be returned to Stage 1. The import procedure for these facilities will thus slow down since the number of cartons inspected will be increased. For example, for shipments containing 501 to 1,200 boxes, 80 boxes are opened and inspected during Stage 1 compared to only 13 boxes in Stage 2.  USMEF will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as information becomes available.

Though delays have not been reported, it is anticipated that this increased level of inspection will create extra time and labor costs for Japanese importers. USMEF-Tokyo also fears the politicization of the inspection issue and that further errors and violations might interfere with U.S. efforts to gain expanded beef access to Japan.  USMEF urges exporters to be diligent in finding and eliminating any non-compliance in products destined for Japan.