060214 Japan to Study US Report on Madcow Import ScareFebruary 18, 2006Tokyo - Senior Japanese officials say they will closely study a US government report on a rogue beef shipment that prompted Tokyo to suspend US beef imports due to madcow disease fears. Officials from the health, farm and foreign ministries, the food safety panel and the cabinet office met to discuss measures Japan should take following submission of the report, Jiji Press and Kyodo News agencies said Saturday. The United States revealed Friday that last month's rogue shipment was caused by confusion among its meat inspectors as to what products were eligible for export to Japan. The Japanese officials agreed to examine the 475-page report carefully to determine if the same mistake could be repeated due to "a flaw in the system," Jiji Press quoted a farm ministry official as saying. It would take at least one or two weeks to examine the report, it said. Japan may also seek additional explanations from US officials, Jiji quoted Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masahiro Futahashi as saying. Japan slapped a new ban on imported US beef on January 20 after a shipment violated safety guidelines requiring the removal of risky body parts. It had only resumed beef imports in December following a two-year ban after coming under intense pressure from Washington, Tokyo's closest ally. Japan, which had been the largest overseas market for US beef, initially suspended imports from the United States in 2003 after a case of madcow disease was discovered in a herd in Washington state. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Wednesday his government may not lift the fresh ban on imports until arrangements are made to ensure their safety. The United States has apologized for the impounded shipment but called it an isolated case, saying US beef is safe for human consumption.
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