 JCP: People want all beef cattle BSE-tested As Japan and the United States began talks on October 21 with the aim of resuming U.S. beef imports, Japanese Communist Party representative Kami Tomoko in the Diet demanded that the government reject the U.S. call for exempting young cows from BSE tests. "People are demanding continued BSE-tests on all beef cattle," she said. In the House of Councilors Budget Committee on the same day, Kami pointed out that confusion and cheating will prevail if BSE-untested beef can be sold. Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro was unable to dismiss the possibility of confusion. The JCP Dietmember asserted that BSE-tests on all beef cattle ensure the total exclusion of infected cows from the food chain. She quoted the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Ministry staff who took part in a U.S. study team, as commenting that the U.S. demand lacks scientific grounds and is unacceptable. JCP Kami asked the prime minister, "Do you think that the U.S. demand is scientific and acceptable?" The prime minister remained silent. Kami demanded that the government not agree on any arrangement aimed at resuming U.S. beef imports. In the United States, only 1 percent of all beef cattle are BSE-tested, and high-risk parts are removed only from cattle 30 months and older. The Japanese government is now reviewing its standards to exempt cows of 20 months and younger from BSE-tests. (end) |