Japan | Delay In Resuming Beef Trade Creates Frustration, Says USMEF Presiden...

Japan

Delay In Resuming Beef Trade Creates Frustration, Says USMEF President and CEO

Delay in resuming beef trade is creating frustration in the United States and Japan, and is a result of the Japanese Food Safety Commission’s Prion Subcommittee steeping its deliberations in politics rather than science, according to USMEF President and CEO Philip M. Seng.

Seng addressed more than 30 newspaper reporters, major TV station reporters and embassy representatives from other leading beef exporting countries today at the Foreign Correspondence Club of Japan in Tokyo.

Since Japan closed to U.S. beef in December 2003 when the first case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy was discovered in the United States, more than 10,000 jobs have been lost in the U.S. beef industry and 100,000 jobs lost in the Japanese foodservice industry, according to Seng. The two economies combined have lost more than $10 billion since the ban.

Seng noted the United States adheres to a stringent BSE surveillance system, including publicly reporting and documenting every violation to maintain credibility while the Japanese do not require such documentation. Seng was confident U.S. beef will regain its popularity with Japanese consumers when trade resumes.

Meanwhile, USMEF conducted two seminars for members of the Japanese trade and media in the past week to provide updated and detailed information on U.S. beef safety, including risk management, BSE surveillance, BSE testing methods and SRM removal.

Dr. Guy Loneragan, a BSE expert from West Texas A&M University, discussed BSE issues with more than 140 member of the trade in Tokyo. More than 85 percent of attendees said they left the seminar with a better understanding of BSE and U.S. safety measures and would consider buying U.S. beef when trade resumes.

USMEF provided BSE and U.S. beef safety information for more than 50 trade and media members at an open house at its Tokyo office. USMEF staff answered questions one-on-one, provided printed information and helped visitors gain a better understanding of U.S. preventative measures.

 

Panama

Panama Announces Reopening To U.S. Beef

The Panama Ministry of Agriculture announced Panama is lifting its ban on boneless prime and choice cuts of U.S. beef from cattle less than 30 months of age. Panama closed to U.S. beef July 5, shortly after the announcement of a second case of BSE in the United States.

Panama imports beef primarily for use in upscale restaurants. In 2003, the United States exported 191 metric tons (mt) of beef to Panama valued at $510,398. In the five years prior to the first case of BSE in the United States in 2003, U.S. beef exports to Panama averaged 555 mt per year valued at $1.4 million.

U.S. beef export certification requirements have not been finalized yet. USMEF will continue to monitor the situation and report export requirements as they are finalized and then added to the FSIS Export Library.

Japan

Delay In Resuming Beef Trade Creates Frustration, Says USMEF President and CEO

Delay in resuming beef trade is creating frustration in the United States and Japan, and is a result of the Japanese Food Safety Commission’s Prion Subcommittee steeping its deliberations in politics rather than science, according to USMEF President and CEO Philip M. Seng.

Seng addressed more than 30 newspaper reporters, major TV station reporters and embassy representatives from other leading beef exporting countries today at the Foreign Correspondence Club of Japan in Tokyo.

Since Japan closed to U.S. beef in December 2003 when the first case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy was discovered in the United States, more than 10,000 jobs have been lost in the U.S. beef industry and 100,000 jobs lost in the Japanese foodservice industry, according to Seng. The two economies combined have lost more than $10 billion since the ban.

Seng noted the United States adheres to a stringent BSE surveillance system, including publicly reporting and documenting every violation to maintain credibility while the Japanese do not require such documentation. Seng was confident U.S. beef will regain its popularity with Japanese consumers when trade resumes.

Meanwhile, USMEF conducted two seminars for members of the Japanese trade and media in the past week to provide updated and detailed information on U.S. beef safety, including risk management, BSE surveillance, BSE testing methods and SRM removal.

Dr. Guy Loneragan, a BSE expert from West Texas A&M University, discussed BSE issues with more than 140 member of the trade in Tokyo. More than 85 percent of attendees said they left the seminar with a better understanding of BSE and U.S. safety measures and would consider buying U.S. beef when trade resumes.

USMEF provided BSE and U.S. beef safety information for more than 50 trade and media members at an open house at its Tokyo office. USMEF staff answered questions one-on-one, provided printed information and helped visitors gain a better understanding of U.S. preventative measures.

 

Panama

Panama Announces Reopening To U.S. Beef

The Panama Ministry of Agriculture announced Panama is lifting its ban on boneless prime and choice cuts of U.S. beef from cattle less than 30 months of age. Panama closed to U.S. beef July 5, shortly after the announcement of a second case of BSE in the United States.

Panama imports beef primarily for use in upscale restaurants. In 2003, the United States exported 191 metric tons (mt) of beef to Panama valued at $510,398. In the five years prior to the first case of BSE in the United States in 2003, U.S. beef exports to Panama averaged 555 mt per year valued at $1.4 million.

U.S. beef export certification requirements have not been finalized yet. USMEF will continue to monitor the situation and report export requirements as they are finalized and then added to the FSIS Export Library.