Japan has agreed to allow US imports of cattle aged up to 30 months from 1 February. This move comes after the food safety authorities stated that the decision would not increase health concerns.
The new rule will allow the US exporters such as Tyson Foods, JBS USA and Cargill Beef to regain the market share in Japan.
Japan imposed the ban in 2003 after an outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and has since restricted US beef imports of cattle aged 20 months or younger over concerns that older animals may be at higher risk for BSE.
In 2005, Japan , lifted the ban on imports of cattle aged 20 months and younger; however, it retained ban on older animals over concerns that they may be at higher risk for BSE.
For the first half of 2012, Japan purchased 56,887 tons of US beef, 10% more than a year earlier; while the total beef imports totaled 240,815 tons, of which 64% were from Australia.
