05/10/05 Japan takes another step on beef

American Rancher May 10, 2005 Japan's Food Safety Commission said last Friday that it would recommend the government waive BSE testing for cattle younger than 21 months of age. That's another step in the process needed before Japan can reopen its border to U.S. beef. Up to now Japan has been testing all its cattle for BSE and had wanted the U.S. do to the same before resuming imports. USDA official Chuck Lambert says the Commission recommendation paves the way for the Japanese government to begin considering a change in policy regarding imports. Lambert: "And that policy process is expected to begin here in May with some discussion, consideration of all the facts, doing the risk assessment and then moving towards reopening the market." Lambert says a Japanese technical team is visiting the U.S. this week. Lambert: "Part of the verification visit is to see physiological maturity, to determine SRM removal and to visit some feed plants." South Korea is another major U.S. beef export market that remains closed. Lambert says members of a Korean public advisory committee will be in the U.S. this month and a Korean technical team is scheduled to visit the U.S. in early June. Last week the president of the nation's largest meatpacker, Dick Bond of Tyson Foods, said they don't see the Japanese and Korean markets resuming U.S. beef imports until November or December of this year. I'm Bob Hoff.