 Resuming U.S. beef imports is dangerous: JCP lawmaker A Japanese Communist Party lawmaker warned that Japan's rapid moves toward resuming the import of U.S. beef may result in serving beef that includes so-called specific risk materials (SRMs), despite strong anxiety over Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). JCP Takahashi Chizuko took up this issue in the House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on February 17, quoting a report of meat inspector Stan Painter, chairman of the National Joint Council of Food Inspection Locals. The report, submitted to the US Agriculture Department last December, warns that U.S. meat plants are violating U.S. mad cow rules. Older cattle, over 30-months of age, possibly with higher risk for mad cow disease, are not separated which allows SRMs to be slipped into the food supply. Japan has maintained that beef imports require testing all cattle of all ages. However, the Japanese government is inclined to resume importing meat of U.S. cattle at 20 months or younger without inspection. Stressing that the Painter report showed how lax the U.S. beef inspection procedure is, Takahashi demanded that the government not ease their ban on US beef unless the U.S. carries out inspecting all cows. The government must make every effort so that the public anxiety regarding food safety will be eliminated, Takahashi stated. (end) |