Japan open to relaxing Beef import age restrictions

Tomoshige Sakamoto of the Canadian Beef Export Federation says Japan’s rule that beef imported from Canada must come from animals under 21 months of age results in higher prices and lower sales. Canada’s beef exports to Japan this year are expected to reach 3,400 tonnes. Although that is 60% more than last year, it is only a tenth of the peak level reached before BSE. Sakamoto adds, however, that a wide "pipeline" is ready and that exports can increase rapidly if the age restriction is relaxed.

Information summarized from: Shokuhin Sangyo Shimbun courtesy of Canadian Embassy Translation Services, Tokyo