Japan's Proposal To Ease Age Limit On U.S. Beef Not Good Enough: U.S. Official

Washington's headaches with Tokyo continued when Japanese officials indicated amid technical talks Friday that it might allow imports of U.S. beef from cattle aged 30 months or younger.

While a budge from its current protocol, limiting imports of beef from cattle younger than 21 months of age, it's not exactly what Washington has in mind.

USDA Undersecretary of Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Mark Keenum told reporters that the United States, "Quite frankly does not see this is based on anything that has to do with science." He further noted that the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has declared that U.S. beef from cattle of any age is safe.

"U.S. beef is entitled to unencumbered market access to any WTO (World Trade Organization) member nation regardless of the age," Keenum said, adding, "We strongly urge Japan to move forward."

However, OIE standards are not enforceable and Japan is playing by its own rules.

"Japan maintains its current position of restricting U.S. beef to (meat from cattle) no older than 20 months," Noriyuki Shikata, a foreign ministry official working on U.S. relations, told reporters. "No change whatsoever has been made."

U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Phil Seng told Meatingplace.com it comes as no surprise that Japan is mulling a move to 30 months, which has been in the works for more than a year. Other steps, including lifting a requirement that 100 percent of its cattle be tested for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, demonstrate a process in Japan, he said.

"This is all part of a methodical approach by Japan," Seng said. "The Japanese obviously believe in doing this in steps, not one big step."

However, Seng noted that U.S. meat exporters are collectively losing $100 million a month by not having full access to Japan's market, which is why the industry supports Washington's position on the issue.

Source: Tom Johnston on 12/7/2007 for Meatingplace.com