Japan                                    ...

Japan                                                                                            

Panel Recommends Japanese Government Accept U.S. Age Verification Proposal

A panel of scientists and officials from Japan’s farm and health ministries concluded that the U.S. beef industry and USDA inspectors can distinguish cattle of 20 months or younger from older cattle by physical examination to a certainty approaching 99 percent. The panel, however, said further monitoring and study were required to ensure the method was safe enough. New USDA Secretary Mike Johanns issued the following statement:

"I am pleased that Japanese technical experts met today and accepted the U.S. grading system as an appropriate means to determine the age of cattle. This action now resolves the outstanding technical issues on resuming our trade in beef.

"Export sales are very important to our cattle and beef industry, amounting to 10% of our total production. Sales to Japan alone exceeded $1.7 billion in 2003 before trade was halted due to our finding one case of BSE in the United States.

"Today's determination by the Japanese experts is an important step towards resolving this issue between our two countries. We now call upon our Japanese colleagues to expedite the remaining implementation process so that trade may resume."

Japan                                                                                            

Panel Recommends Japanese Government Accept U.S. Age Verification Proposal

A panel of scientists and officials from Japan’s farm and health ministries concluded that the U.S. beef industry and USDA inspectors can distinguish cattle of 20 months or younger from older cattle by physical examination to a certainty approaching 99 percent. The panel, however, said further monitoring and study were required to ensure the method was safe enough. New USDA Secretary Mike Johanns issued the following statement:

"I am pleased that Japanese technical experts met today and accepted the U.S. grading system as an appropriate means to determine the age of cattle. This action now resolves the outstanding technical issues on resuming our trade in beef.

"Export sales are very important to our cattle and beef industry, amounting to 10% of our total production. Sales to Japan alone exceeded $1.7 billion in 2003 before trade was halted due to our finding one case of BSE in the United States.

"Today's determination by the Japanese experts is an important step towards resolving this issue between our two countries. We now call upon our Japanese colleagues to expedite the remaining implementation process so that trade may resume."