040405 Japan Refuses US Beef Without Testing Every CowApril 6, 2004Washington - Japan has flatly rejected a US proposal to lift Tokyo's ban on American beef over madcow fears, according to a letter released. US Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman had proposed holding talks through the World Organization for Animal Health to settle key disputed matters in the "impasse" by the end of April. "I think it is impossible to conclude this issue by the end of April unless the United States implements the same measures as we do," replied Japanese Agriculture Minister Yoshiyuki Kamei. A translation of Kamei's letter, dated April 2, was released by the US Department of Agriculture. Japan tests all cows for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and demands the United States now do the same. But Washington insists that testing only higher risk animals such as older cows is enough. Japan used to rely on US produce for almost a third of its beef. But it halted American beef imports after a cow was found to have the disease in Washington state in December. Kamei said the United States and Japan should come to an agreement on the science and consumer risks. "I fear that if the US government attempts to force Japan into trade resumption without going through such processes, the prestige of US beef on the Japanese market may be undermined," he wrote. He pressed the United States to provide information requested by a Japanese team when it visited here in January, including the method of selecting cattle for testing, and the possibility of feed contamination. Veneman had suggested that a panel of the World Organization for Animal Health make determinations on key questions regarding testing. But Kamei said Japanese consumers would not be convinced, unless the organization's rules were changed "so that Japan can also agree with them."
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