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Japan Reacts to BSE |
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Gyuudon, or "beef bowl," a popular
Japanese dish often made with U.S. beef |
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As of January 20, 2006,
Japan once again banned the import of U.S. beef, after
Japanese inspectors found bone material, a banned product,
in a U.S. beef shipment to Japan.
The Japanese
government
had
issued
a ruling
permitting
the import of U.S. beef
from cattle under the age of 21 months in early December,
2005, after protracted negotations.
The list of events and resources below trace some
of the background of this ongoing discussion between
the United States and Japan on beef. It is not intended
to serve as an exhaustive treatment of this subject
but, rather, as an introduction to some of the key
issues. For additional background on beef exports to
Japan and on Japanese views of beef and other foods,
see our section on Interviews: Authentic Voices.
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Events
After a cow slaughtered in the state of Washington
tested positive for BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy)
in December 2003, Japan
immediately announced a ban on the
import of U.S. beef and most other products derived
from cattle, sheep, goats from the United States. |
Resources
For USG publications on the USDA page on events related
to the discovery of BSE in the United States and resulting
trade issues, see the USDA
Foreign Agricultural Service page on BSE and list
of updates.
(Access
to Japan Times articles requires registration.)
Japanese
consumer reaction was calm:
No
Panic Over Latest BSE Scare (Japan Times, Dec.
27, 2003)
U.S.
Mad Cow Case Comes as No Surprise to Japan (Japan
Today, Dec. 30, 2003)
Japan
Officially Slaps Ban on U.S. Beef over BSE Scare (Japan
Times, Dec. 27, 2003)
BSE
Trade Ban Status - a continuously updated
list of BSE-triggered bans, listed alphabetically
by country, of U.S. products.
KSU
opens BSE testing Center |
| The Japanese beef industry had already
been hit by BSE after the disease was diagnosed in a Japanese
cow in 2001. In response, Japan
adopted a law in June 2003 requiring the traceability
of beef from the farm to retail sale and
set up a voluntary program for exporters of beef to Japan
to certifiy the traceability of beef from other countries. |
Meat
Traceability in Japan by Roxane Clemens, Center
for Agricultural and Rural Development, Iowa State University,
November 2003. Explains how "farm to fork"
traceability has become a marketing tool used by Japanese
companies to attract consumer confidence in their products.
Some companies have developed elaborate systems to offer
consumers detailed assurance on the origins of each
beef purchase.
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| Customers
of beef restaurants in Japan expressed great disappointment
after the supply of U.S. beef was cut off.
Several popular fast-food chain restaurants, known for
their gyuudon ("beef bowl") dishes
faced unhappy customers when they were forced to stop
offering this quick meal. The restaurants have tried
alternative dishes but with only limited success.
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See the Japan Times online for the
unfolding of this story (Access
to Japan Times articles requires registration.):
Gyudon'
back on Matsuya's menu ( March 10, 2004)
McDonald's,
Yoshinoya diversify fare
(March 2, 2004)
Chain
turns to Aussie beef to keep 'gyudon' on menu (Feb.
20, 2004)
Yoshinoya
faithful prepare for end to 'gyudon
(Feb. 11, 2004)
Gyudon':
the end of an era ( Feb. 10, 2004)
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| During the past two years, the
United States and Japan have held a series of talks
on
beef imports. |
For an Asian perspective on the status
of negotiations:
More
on the mad mad cow mess and Mexico, (Asian Times
Online, Feb. 25, 2004)
Kill
the T-bone to save the beef (Asian Times Online,
Feb.12, 2004)
U.S.
Farm Chief Prods Japan on Beef Imports (Japan Times,
Mar. 11, 2004)
Japan
Cool to U.S. BSE Test Plan (Japan Times, Feb. 27,
2004)
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