Japan Reinstates Ban on U.S. Beef

CHICAGO - Jan 20/06 - SNS -- The Japanese government has again banned all imports of U.S. beef following the discovery of material from animal parts considered at risk for transferring bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

Reuters reported a Japanese Farm Ministry official as saying 390 kg or 860 pounds of beef imported from a meat packer in New York was found to contain the risk materials when it was inspected upon arrival at Narita International Airport near Tokyo. These materials include the spinal cord.

The finding in Japan comes just hours after Singapore announced it will resume the import of U.S. boneless beef products from animals under 30 months of age.

The decision to halt beef imports from the United States was announced by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi earlier today. The ban will remain in effect until the United States can confirm beef being exported is safe.

"This is a pity given that imports had just resumed," Koizumi told reporters. "I received the agriculture minister's report with his recommendation that the imports be halted and I think it is a good idea."

In a statement, the U.S. embassy in Japan said the incident was regrettable. "The United States has every intention of living up to the letter of our recent agreement in regard to beef imports into Japan. We will work closely with the appropriate authorities here in Japan and in the United States to ensure that there is no repetition of this mistake."