Trade Talks Continue with Japan

Recent technical talks between the U.S. and Japan are said to have been encouraging, and Japan is reportedly considering revisions in its current testing program, which calls for 100 percent testing.  The United States and Japan July 22 agreed that accumulated abnormal prion protein in younger animals is unlikely to be detected using current testing methods. 

Japan is interested in the United States reopening its borders to some of the Japanese beef that currently is banned.  There will be a negotiating session between under secretary J.B. Penn and his Japanese counterpart, which will hopefully produce the terms for resumption of trade.

Japan halted U.S. beef imports in December after the discovery of BSE in Washington state.

The Japanese government’s subcommittee working with this issue has yet to release its report, which some say now could come in September.  Once it is released, as in the United States, there will be a comment period followed by a decision from the health ministry, then another comment period.  Peter Fernandez of the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service BSE Technical Working Group said the July meetings gave both sides information on which a final proposal can be developed.

Technical talks on BSE and trade issues between U.S. and Japan have been ongoing since late April. The purpose of the meetings has been to discuss:

(1)  definition of BSE and the method of testing;

(2)  definition of Specified Risk Materials  and the method of removal;

(3) Appropriate surveillance;

(4) Appropriate feed ban implementation;

(5) Risk categorization/status of countries;

(6) Cattle month-age identification and more.

NCBA continues to remain optimistic with the progress made, and urges for an expedited border reopening process.