060222 U.S. Submits Probe Report to Japan on Beef Exports

Tokyo - The United States revealed that confusion among its meat inspectors led to a shipment of beef to Japan that violated safety rules against mad cow disease.

The United States released a report into the January incident that prompted Japan to slap a ban on imported US beef after the shipment was discovered at Tokyo's Narita airport with risky body parts.

"We delivered to the government of Japan a report

detailing the results of the investigations we launched after the incident, which resulted in the suspension of US beef exports to Japan," US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer told a news conference in Tokyo.

According to a summary of the 475-page report, the case was due to a failure on both the exporter and US inspectors to know which products were eligible for shipments to Japan.

"This report recommends additional steps that will be taken to tighten and strengthen our enforcement mechanisms," Schieffer said.

"We hope that this investigation will assure all our Japanese customers that we take their concerns seriously and intend to honor the agreement we made to open their market to American beef," he added.

Japan introduced the ban on January 20 after the shipment violated safety guidelines requiring the removal of risky body parts such as spinal matter.

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 amid fears of madcow disease.

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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