Japan Lifts Ban on Imports of Danish Beef
JAPAN - Japan lifted its long-term ban on Danish beef based on an alleged risk of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) on 2 February 2016.
9 February 2016
2 minute read
The decision on products from Denmark follows an earlier opening of the Japanese market to beef products from France, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Poland.
Japan introduced an import ban on beef from the EU in 2001, referring to a risk of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).
The European Commission (EC) said this measure went beyond the international standards set by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and did not take into account the stringent control and surveillance measures in place in the European Union guaranteeing the safety of European beef and beef products.
Exports of beef and beef products from the EU to Japan resumed in 2013. The exports from the first four authorised Member States were worth €4.6 million in the first half of 2015.
For Danish beef exports to effectively resume, Denmark will now need to designate the exporting establishments.
The EU welcomed the fact that Japan continues to approve exports from further Member States.
It is an encouraging signal for those EU Member States that have also applied to export beef, and whose equally high level of food safety has been internationally recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
The European Commission said it looked forward to seeing Japan open its market to the remaining EU Member States in the near future. Together with the EU Delegation to Japan, it will work towards the opening of the Japanese market for EU beef and beef products for all Member States interested in exporting those commodities.
TheCattleSite News Desk
