Japan ...
Japan’s Food Safety Commission Prion Panel Concludes Risk “Extremely Low”
Japan’s Food Safety Commission prion panel issued a draft report today (Oct. 31) which concluded that the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) infection from beef imports from the United States and Canada is “extremely low,” as long as stringent safety measures are followed.
The long-awaited report brings the lifting of the ban on U.S. and Canadian beef a step closer.
The panel stressed the need for Japan’s health and agriculture ministries to maintain careful oversight over the safety of imports, including periodic plant inspections, and the report is in favor of imports from cattle slaughtered at 20 months or less with specified risk material removed.
The report also said that it was difficult to assess and compare the different safety approaches applied in the United States and Japan because their effectiveness has not been fully proven. The panel also told the Japanese government to halt imports if it uncovers any breakdown in the safety rules and to make public such breakdowns if they occur.
Comments on the report can be made to the Food Safety Commission over the next four weeks before a final report in early December.
Japan’s Food Safety Commission Prion Panel Concludes Risk “Extremely Low”
Japan’s Food Safety Commission prion panel issued a draft report today (Oct. 31) which concluded that the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) infection from beef imports from the United States and Canada is “extremely low,” as long as stringent safety measures are followed.
The long-awaited report brings the lifting of the ban on U.S. and Canadian beef a step closer.
The panel stressed the need for Japan’s health and agriculture ministries to maintain careful oversight over the safety of imports, including periodic plant inspections, and the report is in favor of imports from cattle slaughtered at 20 months or less with specified risk material removed.
The report also said that it was difficult to assess and compare the different safety approaches applied in the United States and Japan because their effectiveness has not been fully proven. The panel also told the Japanese government to halt imports if it uncovers any breakdown in the safety rules and to make public such breakdowns if they occur.
Comments on the report can be made to the Food Safety Commission over the next four weeks before a final report in early December.