| The
Japanese government appears to favor a gradual end of universal
testing of cattle for BSE, but the ban will remain on cattle
over 20 months of age and easing of the testing requirements
will not occur before the spring of 2005, the Japan Times
reported yesterday.
The government will set a three-month notice period before
ending the universal test requirement and will in all likelihood
continue to provide subsidies to states that wish to continue
universal testing. Since nearly all states (prefectures)
favor such testing, the end of the requirement may be purely
theoretical.
A hearing yesterday in which experts from the Food Safety
Commission were to deliver their recommendations was postponed,
with no alternative date announced. According to the Times
, it would be at least two months before any decision is
reached. Adding the notice period, during which consumers
would be advised of the changes, the earliest possible date
for the end of the testing requirement would be April of
next year.
The effect on U.S.-Japan negotiations to end the ban on
imports of U.S. beef products is unknown, although the end
of testing of cattle under 20 months of age would seem to
open the door for import of such cattle from the U.S., which
has had far fewer cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy
(BSE) than has Japan. The argument over cattle older than
20 months, however, would remain. |
