 BSE-testing on all cows secures beef safety: experts A professor emeritus of Tokyo University, who is a member of the government's Food Safety Commission's advisory panel of experts, publicly criticized the recent panel proposal calling for the standards for BSE testing to be eased. Speaking at the House of Representative Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Committee meeting on May 20, Yamauchi Kazuya, a member of the Prion Expert Committee in the Cabinet Office's Food Safety Commission, said, "It is regrettable that the panel was compelled to discuss a review of cows' age requirement of BSE tests even though the need for such a review did not convince everyone." Yamauchi stated, "Removing risky parts from beef while at the same time carrying out BSE-testing on all cows is essential to secure beef safety. However, considered a barrier to trade, these effective measures are now to be reviewed." This is the first time that an expert testified in the Diet concerning the advisory panel's proposal. On the same day, farmers of the National Federation of Farmers Movement and the National Campaign for Defense of the People's Food and Health held a rally in Tokyo and demanded that the government continue BSE-testing on all cows as well as the ban on U.S. beef imports without giving in to U.S. pressures. - Akahata, May 21, 2005 |