Mad cow found in U.S., Japan stops importing U.S. beef

Following the news that a bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)-infected cow was found in the United States, Japan on December 24 suspended imports of all U.S. beef including U.S. beef products.

"Their responsibility of the Koizumi Cabinet is beyond dispute," said Akahata of December 25, because it insisted on excluding imported beef, which accounts for more than 60 percent of Japan's domestic consumption, from traceability by law of every cow's history, from production to distribution.

In June when the Diet was discussing the traceability bill, the U.S. Embassy pressured Japan to exempt foreign beef from the law.

Calling for both domestic and foreign beef to be subjected to traceability rules, the Japanese Communist Party and other opposition parties submitted a counterproposal to the Diet.

However, the Koizumi Cabinet refused this proposal on the grounds that it will be a "trade barrier" and gave foreign beef a free pass. The government has not required the Unites States to conduct BSE test on beef for export and even neglected to check to make sure that U.S. beef is not infected with BSE.

Japan imports beef mainly from the United States, Canada, and Australia. Canada and Australia have a system similar to Japan's traceability law. The United States, however, regards the traceability as a trade barrier and has protested to the World Trade Organization. (end)