USMEF BOD Meeting ...
USMEF BOD Meeting
Seng Fields Questions On Japan Market Opening
U.S. pork and pork variety meat exports are up 13 percent so far this year, but it was the U.S. beef markets closed due to a single BSE case that were on the minds of the international media at a U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) briefing at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday.
U.S. pork exports set records in value and volume last year and are continuing that trend this year, USMEF President and CEO Philip M. Seng told a group of reporters, the majority from Japan. Through March, Japan is the leading destination for U.S. pork exports in volume at 88,963 metric tons (mt) and value at $276 million.
It might be expected that the U.S. pork export growth is happening mostly in markets closed to U.S. beef, but Seng pointed out that U.S. pork exports to markets open to U.S. beef are growing at a 40 percent rate while U.S. pork exports to markets closed to U.S. beef are growing at a 20 percent rate.
But most questions posed by the international media were about a market that is not growing at all – the U.S. beef market in Japan.
Seng told Japanese television reporters in one-on-one interviews that USMEF is encouraged that Japan’s ministries of health and agriculture are now asking the Food Safety Commission to decide the issue this week. “Japan will use every avenue to expedite the decision-making process without sacrificing safety,” Seng said.
Additionally, the Office International des Epizooties is meeting in Paris this week to finalize international standards. “The United States and Japan will be discussing BSE together and with other countries from around the world, which will be helpful since the top scientists in the world will be setting standards that all consumers can trust,” said Seng.
The world standard set by the OIE to ensure beef safety from BSE is to slaughter animals at 30-months or less, but Japan wants a 20-month cutoff.
“The best scientists in Japan now agree 100-percent testing is not warranted in younger cattle below 20 months,” Seng said. “USMEF will continue to provide information to Japan on the 30-month age issue and believes as Japan looks at science, there will be a break in the age issue.
“The Japanese government is being thorough in looking at science and the safety measures the United States is taking to provide a safe product,” Seng said. “When Japan decides to open the market, Japanese consumers can have every confidence that U.S. beef is safe.”
Seng’s comments were aired on four major Japanese television networks. “We would like to see a quick resolution to resume a normal trade relationship, but respect Japan’s process to ensure a safe product for Japanese consumers.”
USMEF BOD Meeting
Seng Fields Questions On Japan Market Opening
U.S. pork and pork variety meat exports are up 13 percent so far this year, but it was the U.S. beef markets closed due to a single BSE case that were on the minds of the international media at a U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) briefing at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday.
U.S. pork exports set records in value and volume last year and are continuing that trend this year, USMEF President and CEO Philip M. Seng told a group of reporters, the majority from Japan. Through March, Japan is the leading destination for U.S. pork exports in volume at 88,963 metric tons (mt) and value at $276 million.
It might be expected that the U.S. pork export growth is happening mostly in markets closed to U.S. beef, but Seng pointed out that U.S. pork exports to markets open to U.S. beef are growing at a 40 percent rate while U.S. pork exports to markets closed to U.S. beef are growing at a 20 percent rate.
But most questions posed by the international media were about a market that is not growing at all – the U.S. beef market in Japan.
Seng told Japanese television reporters in one-on-one interviews that USMEF is encouraged that Japan’s ministries of health and agriculture are now asking the Food Safety Commission to decide the issue this week. “Japan will use every avenue to expedite the decision-making process without sacrificing safety,” Seng said.
Additionally, the Office International des Epizooties is meeting in Paris this week to finalize international standards. “The United States and Japan will be discussing BSE together and with other countries from around the world, which will be helpful since the top scientists in the world will be setting standards that all consumers can trust,” said Seng.
The world standard set by the OIE to ensure beef safety from BSE is to slaughter animals at 30-months or less, but Japan wants a 20-month cutoff.
“The best scientists in Japan now agree 100-percent testing is not warranted in younger cattle below 20 months,” Seng said. “USMEF will continue to provide information to Japan on the 30-month age issue and believes as Japan looks at science, there will be a break in the age issue.
“The Japanese government is being thorough in looking at science and the safety measures the United States is taking to provide a safe product,” Seng said. “When Japan decides to open the market, Japanese consumers can have every confidence that U.S. beef is safe.”
Seng’s comments were aired on four major Japanese television networks. “We would like to see a quick resolution to resume a normal trade relationship, but respect Japan’s process to ensure a safe product for Japanese consumers.”