Do not end state subsidy for BSE tests on all cattle

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

   The Health Ministry has informed prefectural and major city governments of its plan to stop at the end of July 2008 subsidizing the BSE testing on cattle 20 months old or younger and instructed them to put an end to such testing that they have voluntarily conducted.

   In response to representations made by Japanese Communist Party House of Councilors member Kami Tomoko and House of Representatives member Takahashi Chizuko, the ministry said that it will retract the instruction to local governments but will push ahead with its plan to stop the subsidy program.

   In order for consumers to be able to eat safe beef, it is urgent to have the government continue the blanket BSE tests on all cattle and the subsidy for the testing.

Irresponsibly yielding to U.S. demands

   The BSE testing on all cattle began in October 2001 immediately after the first case of BSE infected cattle was found in Japan. Amid the strong U.S. pressure for Japan’s lifting a ban on U.S. beef imports, the government Food Safety Commission in May 2005 issued a report concluding that there is no need to examine cattle 20 months old or younger. The Health Ministry in August excluded cattle of that age group from testing.

   However, faced with a strong public outcry demanding the continuance of the blanket testing, the government decided to cover for three years from June 2005 all the costs for the tests on cattle 20 months old or younger carried out voluntarily by local governments.

   The JCP has demanded that the testing on all cattle and the government subsidy program be continued.

   Food safety must be carefully and strictly checked. The government decision to terminate the subsidy program betrays the public trust in food safety. Domestically produced beef still enjoys the public trust because of local governments’ voluntary efforts to continue blanket testing. Halting the blanket testing will increase consumers’ anxieties.

   The Food Safety Commission did not warrant the safety of cattle 20 months or younger but admitted that with today’s technology, the test generally cannot detect abnormal prion in such young cattle.

   Despite repeated U.S. violations of Japan’s beef import regulations, the U.S. government has urged the Japanese government to lift all restrictions on U.S. beef imports. If Japan stops conducting BSE tests on cattle 20 months or younger, sloppy management of U.S. beef could be left unchecked.

Government responsible for food safety

   The government is responsible for securing food safety. It must not yield to the U.S. government demands but strive to dispel consumers’ and producers’ anxieties and promote further studies on BSE.                    - Akahata, September 29, 2007