Japan Unlikely to Resume U.S. Beef Imports
United Press International, October 08, 2004
TOKYO, Oct 08, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Japan looks unlikely to resume imports of U.S. beef this year in the face of local resistance to lifting the ban and easing testing for mad cow disease.
The Japanese government is considering continuing subsidies for mad cow tests, after several local governments announced they would continue blanket testing despite central government plans to limit them to cattle aged 21 months and older.
The subsidies now amount to almost $27 million per year.
The Cabinet Office's Food Safety Commission will conduct a hearing on the matter next Wednesday.
Japan and the United States agreed last month that U.S. beef imports to Japan would soon be resumed.
But there are still strong voices among legislators in the ruling coalition that oppose the government's apparent compromise on food safety in the face of U.S. government pressure.
Copyright 2004 by United Press International.
United Press International, October 08, 2004
TOKYO, Oct 08, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Japan looks unlikely to resume imports of U.S. beef this year in the face of local resistance to lifting the ban and easing testing for mad cow disease.
The Japanese government is considering continuing subsidies for mad cow tests, after several local governments announced they would continue blanket testing despite central government plans to limit them to cattle aged 21 months and older.
The subsidies now amount to almost $27 million per year.
The Cabinet Office's Food Safety Commission will conduct a hearing on the matter next Wednesday.
Japan and the United States agreed last month that U.S. beef imports to Japan would soon be resumed.
But there are still strong voices among legislators in the ruling coalition that oppose the government's apparent compromise on food safety in the face of U.S. government pressure.
Copyright 2004 by United Press International.