Senior Japanese official rejects U.S. demands to ease beef import

TOKYO (AP)--Japan's agriculture minister on Jan. 18 rejected U.S. demands that Tokyo accept beef from cows older than 20 months, one of the conditions under which the ban on U.S. beef imports was lifted last December.

"From the American point of view, I understand the request," Agriculture Minister Shoichi Nakagawa told reporters at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo. "However, Japan cannot accept it."

Japan lifted a nearly two-year old embargo on U.S. beef on Dec. 12, 2005. The country had been the most lucrative export market for American ranchers before they were shut out in December 2003 when the first case of mad cow disease was found in the U.S. herd.

After months of negotiation, the two sides agreed to allow the importation of meat from younger cows, which so far have been free of the disease.

However, U.S. lawmakers have been pressing Japan to allow beef from cattle that has been slaughtered at up to 30 months of age, as called for under international animal health guidelines.

Despite its return to local supermarket shelves and restaurant menus, U.S. beef still faces an uphill struggle in Japan, where consumers are particularly sensitive to safety concerns.

Date:1/25/06