Japanese Commission Finally Moves Forward on Beef Trade Resumption
According to press reports, the Japanese market could reopen in December.
Compiled by staff
Published: Oct 31, 2005
Monday Japan's Food Safety Commission made a positive decision on the safety of U.S. beef that could move Japan significantly closer to reopening its market to imports of U.S. beef.
A subcommittee of the Food Safety Committee completed its deliberations on the
safety of U.S. beef, and the Food Safety Committee will put out the subcommittee's report for public comment for a period of four weeks. The Japanese government could make a final decision following the comment period.
According to press reports, the Japanese market could reopen in December. Even if
Japan does resume imports of U.S. beef, it will permit only the importation of beef from cattle aged twenty months or younger.
"Today's action isn't the final step in the process of reopening Japan's market, but it may turn out to be important toward getting where we should have been a long time ago," says Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, with jurisdiction over international trade. "I'm frustrated that this process has become so drawn out, but I hope the end is in sight. The science behind the safety of U.S. beef is sound, and there's no reason that Japanese consumers should continue to be denied access to the beef that we Americans eat every day."
Japan's movement Monday comes a week after another decision was delayed after four members of the Commission did not show up for the vote. Last week, a bipartisan group of senators also proposed legislation calling for sanctions on Japanese products if the beef ban was not lifted by Dec. 14, 2005.
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