“We were delighted today to learn that the Japan Food Safety Commission (FS...

“We were delighted today to learn that the Japan Food Safety Commission (FSC) has issued its final report on the safety of U.S. beef. The FSC thoughtfully and thoroughly reviewed Japan’s own bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) policies and procedures and recommended changes, which were later accepted by the government of Japan. It then undertook an equally rigorous examination of U.S. beef production procedures and protocols designed to ensure the safety of the beef products we produce for our Japanese customers.

“In its report issued today in Japan, the FSC has concluded that U.S. beef is safe for Japanese consumers. This stringent regulatory review by the FSC now allows Japan’s Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare (MHLW) to re-open the Japanese market, while consumers can be confident that a stringent Japan regulatory process has determined U.S. beef is safe.

“The U.S. beef industry looks forward to supplying safe beef to the Japanese market that meets the stringent regulatory criteria of Japan and U.S. regulators. We are looking forward to the completion of this process and to working with the Japanese meat sector to supply the cuts that meet the desires of Japan's consumers for healthy, nutritious and safe beef.”