Japan to Halt U.S. Beef Imports
(Jan.16,2006)

Oh Noooooo!!!! I was waiting for U.S.Beef to be served in Yakiniku Restaurats in Japan!!

Asahi Shinbun Reports:

The government will halt imports of beef from the United States following the discovery Friday
of a cattle part considered at high risk of transmitting bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE),
farm minister Shoichi Nakagawa said.
The decision comes hot on the heels of Tokyo's move in December to lift a two-year ban on
U.S. beef imports.The ban was imposed in December 2003 following the discovery of BSE in
the United States.

Ministry officials said spinal column parts were found in three of 41 boxes of U.S. beef
that arrived at Narita Airport.
"If it is indeed a risky portion, it is against the import program and quite regrettable,"
Nakagawa told reporters.
He said his ministry will conduct a thorough investigation and will lodge a complaint with
Washington if the suspicious portion does indeed turn out to be from a risky animal part.
Removing high-risk parts, such as the brain, spinal cord and spinal column, was one of the
conditions for Japan agreeing to a resumption of beef imports.

The United States generally removes risky portions from cattle aged 30 months or older.
But Japan's condition for resuming imports was to remove those parts from cattle of all ages.
Imports have also been limited to meat from cattle aged 20 months or younger, which is less
likely to be infected.

Nakagawa called Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Friday to inform him that the ministry
plans to halt all U.S. beef imports. Koizumi agreed, and instructed Nakagawa to consult the
health ministry and to take "appropriate measures."
But criticism is bound to be directed at the government for resuming imports in the first place
amid continued consumer anxiety over BSE, analysts said.
To ease concerns, the government has sent animal and food hygiene experts to the United States
to make sure Japan's conditions are being observed at U.S. ranches and meat processing
facilities.
(IHT/Asahi: January 20,2006)

A cattle part considered at high risk of BSE.......
It look yummy though.....

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