 Food panel to ease BSE test to meet U.S. requests The Food Safety Commission on May 6 adopted a report to the government that the present requirement for blanket BSE testing on all cows should be eased. The decision overrides opposition to the easing expressed by 70 percent of the public that the commission collected in April. Akahata on May 7 criticized the panel for concluding that by excluding beef cattle aged 20 months or younger from the test, an increase in health risk will remain at a very low level. Experts are critical of this optimism for two reasons: (1) Decision on easing should at least wait for the result of safety tests on imported mixed feed and on removal of high risk parts: (2) No test data will be available on cows aged 20 months and younger. The commission will submit the report to the Health, Labor, and Welfare Ministry and the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry. Overriding public opposition to the easing of the test standards, the government in late May will consult the commission regarding resuming U.S. beef imports. Akahata states that the government is at the crossroads to decide on whose calls it should listen to: the Japanese public calling for safe food or the U.S. business interests to sell their beef. - Akahata, May 7, 2005 |