Russia-Japan Meat Trade Policies Highlight Food Safety Issues

Trade restrictions over food safety concerns were in the spotlight this past week, as Russia announced that it would be banning imports of US beef, pork, and turkey due to questions over the use of a feed additive. Meanwhile, Japan has lifted various long-standing bans on beef imports from the US, Canada, and the EU, which had been previously been put in place over fears of mad cow disease.

Japan relaxes beef bans for US, Canada, EU

Japan has partially lifted bans on beef from the US, Canada, France and the Netherlands, Tokyo officials announced over the past two weeks - re-opening a lucrative export market for beef producers in the four countries concerned.

With regards to Washington, the US-Japan agreement changes the age at which beef from US cattle may be imported. The Japanese government had cited concerns over Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) - more commonly known as mad cow disease - as cause for the restrictions.

After a complete ban on US beef from 2003-2006, worth US$1.4 billion a year, the restrictions were revised to allow imports of meat from cattle younger than 20 months. However, Japan’s Food Safety Commission has now recommended allowing beef imports from cattle aged 30 months or younger, saying these present a negligible risk of contracting BSE.

Japan is also set to allow imports of EU beef from animals aged 30 months or less, having initiated a ban in 2001. France and the Netherlands will be the first to see the effects of the new terms; however, this development is also being seen as a positive step forward for other EU nations with food safety regulations in line with World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) standards.

The authorisation process for other EU members is currently underway, given the harmonisation of food standards in the 27-country bloc.

An agreement between Japan and Canada - along similar lines to that between the Japan and the US - also implemented last Friday is set to further increase Japanese beef imports, which currently cover approximately half of the Asian country’s total beef consumption.

Russia slaps ban on US beef, pork, turkey

Moscow, meanwhile, announced last Wednesday that it will be banning imports of US beef and pork containing ractopamine, a chemical that is used to stimulate the development of lean meat. US officials later announced on Tuesday that the Russian ban will also extend to turkey and prepared turkey products. The restriction is due to take effect on 11 February.

Rosselkhoznadzor - Russia’s food safety authority - claims that, while it had asked ractopamine-free guarantees from Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and the US, Washington is the only one not to take steps in an effort to comply.

Moscow had first announced in December that it would be testing imports of US beef and pork for the feed additive, a decision that, in turn, sparked a strong response from US officials.

Russia is one of the Geneva-based trade body’s newest members, having been formally welcomed into the WTO’s ranks last August. In the few short months that Russia has been a member, concerns have already been raised by another of its trading partners - the EU - over its ban on live animal imports from the 27-country bloc, as well as a recycling fee for automobiles.