Citizens urge government not to ease restrictions on U.S. beef imports

Japan Press Weekly

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

Citizens urge government not to ease restrictions on U.S. beef imports

A citizens’ group advocating food safety on April 7 made representations to the agricultural ministry demanding that the restriction on U.S. beef imports not to be eased.

This action was made by the National Campaign for the Defense of the People’s Food and Health (Shokukenren).

Since beef contaminated with BSE was found in the U.S., Japan has imposed the restrictions on U.S beef imports under which U.S. beef shipped to Japan must be no more than 20 months old, and high-risk parts, including the brain and spinal cord, must be removed from meat.

The U.S. government is calling on the Japanese government to ease the restrictions and accept U.S. beef 30 months old.

Representatives of Shokukenren pointed out that the U.S. government is unwilling to conduct blanket testing of all cows for BSE and has just taken measures to prevent high-risk materials from being distributed as feed for cows after an international authority advised the U.S. to take appropriate measures against the distribution of risky parts last autumn.

They urged the ministry not to yield to the U.S. pressure by saying, “The U.S safety measures against BSE are inappropriate and untrustworthy.”

On the following day, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urged Japanese Agriculture Minister Akamatsu Hirotaka to abolish the restrictions on U.S. beef imports. Akamatsu said that the government determination of U.S. beef imports will be made based on scientific data.

- Akahata, April 8 & 9, 2010