NCGA Applauds Japan Lifting Ban on U.S. Beef (12-12-05)

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) welcomes the agreement met Sunday by Japan and the United States to reopen the Japanese market to U.S. beef after a two-year ban.

“Japan was one of our largest export customers before the ban, and we’re happy to have market access there once again,” said Bill Chase, chairman of the Production and Stewardship Action Team. “It’s been a long time coming, and livestock and corn farmers are happy to hear the news.”

More than 1.4 billion bushels of corn were consumed by cattle in 2004, accounting for more than 11 percent of the total corn crop.

Japan, along with several other nations, instituted a ban on U.S. beef after a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was discovered in 2003. Chase is hopeful other nations follow Japan’s lead in lifting their bans on U.S. beef.

“Japan has realized that U.S. beef is safe for its consumers,” Chase said. “We’re optimistic that other nations will come to the same conclusion that Japan has and lift their bans.”

As a result of the agreement, the United States will be able to export beef from cattle 20 months of age and younger to Japan. In 2003, the United States exported $1.4 billion of beef and beef products to Japan.

“Resuming beef trade with Japan is great news for American producers and Japanese consumers, as well as an important step toward normalized trade based on scientifically sound, internationally recognized standards,” said U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Mike Johanns. “Reopening the Japanese market to U.S. beef has been a top priority for me since becoming Secretary, and I want to thank the many people and organizations who have been instrumental in this success.”

In response to the Japanese lifting of the ban, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service lifted its ban on whole cuts of Japanese beef. The United States imposed a ban on Japanese beef products in September 2001 after a BSE-infected cow was found in Japan.