Oust agriculture minister for failure in BSE issue

A non-confidence motion submitted by the opposition parties against Agriculture & Fisheries Minister Takebe Tsutomu was rejected in the House of Representatives on February 5 with the majority vote against it by the government parties.

The opposition parties, including the Japanese Communist Party, denounced Takebe for his failure in coping with the problem of cows infected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).

Commenting on the parliamentary decision, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo said, "Takebe's responsibility for the BSE issue is crystal clear. Even though the opposition proposal was killed by majority in the Diet, it does not mean that he is qualified to be the minister. The JCP will make more efforts to investigate into Takebe's mis-management."

Speaking in favor of the vote, Matsumoto Zenmei (JCP) said that Takebe is responsible for the mismanagement of the ministry, which ignored the 1996 WHO recommendation to ban the use of meat and bone meal.

The agriculture ministry must be blamed for reacting after the event and causing public distrust of the government's agricultural policy, Matsumoto stressed. (end)