TOKYO: Japan has decided to restart beef imports from the United States, lifting the embargo it reinstated in January over fears of the mad cow disease.
Health, Labour and Welfare Minister Jiro Kawasaki said while announcing the end of the beef ban on Thursday that Japan will put a total stop to importing products if it finds the same error as was detected in January, which led Tokyo to reimpose the embargo.
The health ministry and the ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries gave the green light to resuming beef imports from all but one of 35 meatpacking plants Washington has certified as suppliers to Japan.
Japan, which ended a two-year-old import ban on US beef in December, reinstated it January 20 after a backbone was discovered in a veal shipment at Narita airport.
The spinal column is one of the specified risk materials prohibited under bilaterally agreed export requirements.
"If the 100 per cent same violation occurs in the future, I would order a total ban again," Kawasaki said.
Referring to US criticism that Japan's shutting its doors to US beef in January was an overreaction, Kawasaki said, "The decision is up to our government in charge of risk management and not the business of the United States. I still believe imposing the total ban was correct."
Asked whether he will eat US beef after the end of the ban, Kawasaki said, "I have to because of my position."
