Japan's health ministry is planning to relax the age limit on US beef from 20 months to 30 months, a move which will boost US beef imports to Japan.
Japan's health ministry food safety department director Hideshi Michino said that the ministry is expected to receive approval from the country's Food Safety Commission this month, following which, the age limit will be relaxed to 30 months.
The limit, which was imposed to ensure safety against mad cow disease, may be further relaxed to six years.
Japan initially banned US beef after an outbreak of mad cow disease in 2003. In 2005, Japan resumed the import of US beef - however, only beef from cattle that are 20 months or younger are permitted.
The US exporters are expecting the relaxation of the age limit to boost the exports to pre-ban levels.
