Originally published January 9 2006
Japan prepares to import American beef after two-year ban is lifted
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
After a two-year ban on U.S. beef, Japan's Food Safety Commission has declared beef from young American cattle to be safe, as the government prepares to reopen a market that was a booming business in 2003.
The Japanese government is finally poised to ease the ban as early as Monday, ending a bitter trade row, but growing excitement about the prospect of American steaks back on Japanese plates is being tempered by worries on both sides of the Pacific.
Surveys show Japanese are as leery as ever of U.S. beef and unwilling to buy it, while American ranchers say the maze of new safety requirements imposed by Tokyo could keep many producers from tapping the once lucrative market anyway.
Before the ban, Japan was the top overseas buyer of U.S. beef, wolfing down $1.7 billion worth in 2003.
Back then, meat stamped "American" was synonymous with mouthwatering sirloins or the juicy strips garnishing the wildly popular Japanese "beef bowls" of beef on rice.
Many restaurants have substituted pork for beef, while Australia has filled some of the gap in American supply - surpassing the United States as the top beef exporter to Japan.
Last week, however, after two years of negotiations, Japan's Food Safety Commission finally declared beef from young American cattle safe, paving the way for the government to open the market to meat from cows younger than 21 months of age.
The commission agreed unanimously to send its conclusions to the Health and Agriculture ministries, which will make a final recommendation to the government.
Media reports say the Cabinet could decide to ease the ban as soon as Monday.
Commission members say the safety of American beef will depend on U.S. inspectors following strict guidelines, such as removing dangerous cow material such as brains and spinal cords.
Ranchers will also have to certify the cow's age, because resumption of trade is based on the belief that no cases of mad cow disease have been found in cows younger than 21 months.
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