usbeef

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Japan agrees to lift import ban on U.S. beef

The Japanese and U.S. governments on June 21 agreed to lift the ban on U.S. beef imports that has been imposed because U.S. beef had been found to contain BSE specified risk material. The Japanese government plans to resume imports in July following on-site inspections in the United States that are expected to take about a month.

Later in the day, Koike Akira, Japanese Communist Party Policy Commission chair, issued a statement, saying, "Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro is taking the agreement as a goodwill gift to U.S. President George Bush when they meet this month. The Japanese government gave priority to U.S. demands over public safety. We can not condone such a decision."

He pointed out that many experts and consumers in public hearings raised objections to and doubts about U.S. measures against BSE, including its rejection of the testing of all cattle, the non-fulfillment of the removal of specified risk materials, the rejection of the banning of the production and use of meat and bone meal, and the lack of traceability.

"The government pushed ahead with the resumption of U.S. beef imports in complete disregard of these disturbing facts," he criticized.

Koike emphasized, "A commonly agreed upon international rule is that countries exporting agricultural products must observe the hygienic standards of importing countries. Therefore, the United States must implement the testing of all cattle and the removal of the specified risk materials as the minimum standard of measures to avert the danger of BSE in Japan."

Koike stated, "The Japanese Communist Party strongly criticizes the government for hastily accepting the U.S. demand to lift the beef import ban. The JCP also demands that the government refrain from importing U.S. beef until the U.S. government adopts the minimum measures to ensure safety."
- Akahata, June 22, 2006