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Japanese Ministers Vows to Keep 20-Month Age Standard

This week Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi promised Japan's opposition party that Japan would not lower its 20-month age standard in future beef imports, despite evidence that meat from cattle under 30 months of age is safe.

Koizumi has been under attacking from Japan's Diet party who say he's bowed to pressure from the United States in reopening the market to U.S. beef imports. They say he's ignored the health and safety of the Japanese public to please the Bush administration.

"[Americans should understand] that Japan's stricter standard only allows cows younger than 20 months, even though 30 months is considered safe elsewhere," he told the Diet party, according to Meatingplace.com.

U.S. trade officials had hoped to one-day regain full trade with Japan, or at least with animals under 30 months of age.