Japan                                    ...

Japan                                                                                            

U.S. Pork Was Japanese Import Market Leader In 2005

Japan’s official imports statistics for 2005 report that pork imports (HS 0203) were 1.08 percent more than 2004. Imports of U.S. pork had the greatest share of the market, 32.97 percent, and totaled 287,909 mt, a 12.42 percent increase over 2004.

Japanese Pork Imports (HS 0203) 2005

 

Quantity (Metric Tons)

Percent Change Over 2004

Import Market Share

United States

287,909

+12.42

32.97

Denmark

230,976

-13.72

26.45

Canada

195,235

+5.58

22.36

Chile

51,717

+32.77

5.92

Mexico

35,189

+7.73

4.03

In the month of December, Japan imported 54,644 metric tons (mt) of pork, 17.2 percent less than in December 2004, according to Japanese government statistics, and imports of U.S. pork — 20,384 mt — were 2.7 percent higher. The United States was the market leader, followed by Denmark with 11,071 mt (a 51.3 percent decrease).

December imports of Canadian pork totaled 10,436 mt a 21.1 percent decrease. Japan also imported 3,038 mt of pork from Mexico, an increase of 22.0 percent, and 4,398 mt from Chile, up 47.38 percent. Imports in the Oct.-Dec. 2005 quarter were not enough to trigger Japan’s pork safeguard.

Horse Inspection                                                                      

Voluntary Fee-For-Service Program For Antemortem Horse Inspections

An act passed by Congress does not mean that Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) inspection of horses and horse meat will cease, but it does mean that federal money cannot be used to pay salaries or expenses of personnel conducting antemortem inspections after March 10. Since the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) requires that FSIS inspection program personnel conduct antemortem inspection of all livestock before they are allowed to enter any slaughtering facility, FSIS today announced an interim final rule establishing a voluntary fee-for-service program under which establishments that slaughter horses can continue to receive antemortem inspection.

The FY 2006 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act does not eliminate FSIS responsibility under the FMIA to carry out inspection of carcasses and meat at official establishments that slaughter horses.

Comments on the interim final rule must be received on or before March 9, 2006 and must be sent to Docket Clerk, #05-036IF, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 300 12th Street, S.W., Room 102 Cotton Annex, Washington, D.C., 20250. Comments can also be sent to: fsis.regulationscomments@fsis.usda.gov.

All comments submitted, as well as research and background information, will be posted on the Agency's Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/2006_Interim_&_Final_Rules_Index/.

Japan                                                                                            

U.S. Pork Was Japanese Import Market Leader In 2005

Japan’s official imports statistics for 2005 report that pork imports (HS 0203) were 1.08 percent more than 2004. Imports of U.S. pork had the greatest share of the market, 32.97 percent, and totaled 287,909 mt, a 12.42 percent increase over 2004.

Japanese Pork Imports (HS 0203) 2005

 

Quantity (Metric Tons)

Percent Change Over 2004

Import Market Share

United States

287,909

+12.42

32.97

Denmark

230,976

-13.72

26.45

Canada

195,235

+5.58

22.36

Chile

51,717

+32.77

5.92

Mexico

35,189

+7.73

4.03

In the month of December, Japan imported 54,644 metric tons (mt) of pork, 17.2 percent less than in December 2004, according to Japanese government statistics, and imports of U.S. pork — 20,384 mt — were 2.7 percent higher. The United States was the market leader, followed by Denmark with 11,071 mt (a 51.3 percent decrease).

December imports of Canadian pork totaled 10,436 mt a 21.1 percent decrease. Japan also imported 3,038 mt of pork from Mexico, an increase of 22.0 percent, and 4,398 mt from Chile, up 47.38 percent. Imports in the Oct.-Dec. 2005 quarter were not enough to trigger Japan’s pork safeguard.

Horse Inspection                                                                      

Voluntary Fee-For-Service Program For Antemortem Horse Inspections

An act passed by Congress does not mean that Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) inspection of horses and horse meat will cease, but it does mean that federal money cannot be used to pay salaries or expenses of personnel conducting antemortem inspections after March 10. Since the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) requires that FSIS inspection program personnel conduct antemortem inspection of all livestock before they are allowed to enter any slaughtering facility, FSIS today announced an interim final rule establishing a voluntary fee-for-service program under which establishments that slaughter horses can continue to receive antemortem inspection.

The FY 2006 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act does not eliminate FSIS responsibility under the FMIA to carry out inspection of carcasses and meat at official establishments that slaughter horses.

Comments on the interim final rule must be received on or before March 9, 2006 and must be sent to Docket Clerk, #05-036IF, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 300 12th Street, S.W., Room 102 Cotton Annex, Washington, D.C., 20250. Comments can also be sent to: fsis.regulationscomments@fsis.usda.gov.

All comments submitted, as well as research and background information, will be posted on the Agency's Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/2006_Interim_&_Final_Rules_Index/.