03/28/06 USDA team in Japan about beef again

American Rancher March 28, 2006 A USDA technical team is in Japan to provide more details to Japanese officials over the mistaken shipment of bone-in veal that led to the suspension in January of U.S. beef imports. USDA had sent the Japanese a 450 page report on the problem shipment but Undersecretary J.B. Penn says the Japanese asked for more information. Penn: "We have provided an enormous amount of material to the Japanese. They have reviewed that material. And the purpose of this technical team is further elaborate and expand on the information we have provided." Penn describes the latest halt to U.S. beef by Japan as a suspension, not a ban. Penn: "So we would hope that when we have provided information that detailed the incident, how it occurred, why it occurred and steps taken so it won't happen again, then we think they should lift the suspension. I am hopeful that with this visit we can provide all the information they require. Our objective is to get this market open as quickly as we can." Japan insists its actions against U.S. beef are not protectionist but are aimed to protect food safety. I'm Bob Hoff.