Citizens urge government not to accept U.S. request to import beef

A citizens' group monitoring food safety on February 20 made representations to the government requesting that it turn down the U.S. demand that Japan resume importing U.S. beef even without safety measures taken against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

In its statement submitted to the agriculture and health ministries, the Citizens' Committee on Monitoring Food Safety stated that the BSE test in the U.S. is limited and its infection control is not adequate because bone-and-meat feed, recognized as the source of BSE, is distributed within the country.

The group requested that the government send its second investigation team to the U.S. to research the reportedly-insufficient inspections and regulations held by the U.S. government. (end)