News

Restrictions lifted on US beef exports to Japan

Ag
Secretary Sonny Perdue has announced Japan will lift its longstanding import
restrictions on US beef.  He says the new agreement will pave the way for
expanded sales to the nation’s top global beef market and allow beef products
from all US cattle, regardless of age, to enter Japan effective immediately.

The current restrictions were
placed on US beef exports in 2003 following the detection of a BSE (Bovine
Spongiform Encephalopathy) positive animal.

The USDA estimates the new terms will increase US beef exports to Japan up to $200 million each year.

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
President Jennifer Houston says lifting the restrictions underscores the safety
of the US beef herd and will hopefully lead to the elimination of non-science
based trade barriers in other Asian countries.