03/15/05 Beef meet and pressure on Japan

The U.S. Congress, both as individual members and collectively, are pushing the Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. to press his nation to soon reopen its border to U.S. beef. A group of eighteen Senators, including Idaho's Mike Crapo, sent a letter two weeks ago to Ambassador Ryozo Kato expressing both their concerns about the delay in reopening the Japanese border and the growing pressure to have the U.S. impose retaliatory sanctions, such as a resolution offered in the House of Representatives. That resulted in a meeting Friday between Kato and prominent lawmakers such as Senate Ag Committee Chair Saxby Chambliss and House Ag Subcommittee Chair Jerry Moran. The only assurance given by Kato to the group is that the border would reopen soon. The pressure continues today as Kato is set to meet with Crapo's seatmate from Idaho, Larry Craig. CRAIG: If we're going to reopen the Canadian border, it is extremely important that we reopen our trade with Japan to offset the difference in the flow of cattle and or meat products coming in to our country and therefore adjusting prices. The pressure from U.S. Congressional types comes as food safety experts in Japan neared agreement Friday on relaxing current beef-testing standards for b.s.e. The hang up is debate among Food Safety Commission members on wording of a final statement, and inclusion of some scientific details some F.S.C. members' dispute. However the Commission chair says he hopes for a conclusion later this month. Now with today's "Food Forethought", here's Susan Allen. ALLEN: A few years ago some folks in the "Bavarian" themed mountain town of Leavenworth Washington, near my home, raised quite a stink when the city wanted to spray for mosquitoes, fearing the effects of pesticides more than the ramifications of many mosquito bites. Last year West Nile raised it ugly head in our area, and given the prospect that mosquitoes could now become deadly, funny, there wasn't the outcry against spraying. It is always fascinating to me how people can hold such "strong" positions on issues until those issues become personal and then the water gets a bit muddy. Take bird flu in Asia. We know that flies are responsible for carrying the virus, which to date has caused the death of 46 people. A Japanese official has said the flies must be exterminated. How will that happen without the use of pesticides? It won't Groups like the World Health Organization have caved in response to pressure from the environmental front who continues to oppose the use of effective pesticides like DDT. One has to wonder if that position would change if their own children were threatened by flies carrying this dreaded disease. I think we all know the answer. I'm Susan Allen and this is Food Forethought.