*EPF309 05/19/2004
Text: U.S., Japan, Hold First Meeting to Resolve Beef Trade Issues
(Control of "mad cow" disease at issue) (400)

Members of the U.S.-Japan Technical Working Group met for the first time in Tokyo May 17-19 to discuss methods of controlling bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) -- better known to the world as "mad cow disease."

The two countries' delegations discussed how to define the disease, methods of detection and control, feed bans, and country risk categorization.

In a statement released May 19, Dr. Peter Fernandez, chairman of the U.S. technical working group and associate administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, called the first round of talks a good start. "We found many areas where we are in agreement, and some areas where further discussion is needed," he said. A second round of talks will be held in the United States in June.

Japan banned imports of U.S. beef when the threat of BSE in U.S. herds was discovered. The goal of the working group is to restore beef trade this summer.

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Press Release
Press Office
American Embassy, Tokyo

Release No. 198.04
04-12RJ
May 19, 2004

Press Statement by Dr. Peter Fernandez
Chairman, US BSE Technical Working Group
Associate Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA

This first meeting of the US/Japan BSE Technical Working Group was an important first step in restoring beef trade between our two countries. Over the past two days, we and our Japanese counterparts have engaged in a frank and open dialogue on our respective BSE surveillance and control systems.

We had the opportunity yesterday to visit a modern, well-run slaughter facility in Gunma prefecture. This was a valuable opportunity for our team to see first-hand the SRM removal and testing procedures that Japan has implemented. This visit was followed by a day and half of meetings in which we were able to openly discuss the areas of main importance, including the definition of BSE, SRMs, surveillance, feed bans and country risk categorization. We found many areas where we are in agreement, and some areas where further discussion is needed. This meeting has been very productive and provided a good start to this process. We look forward to continuing our discussions next month when we host the next meeting in the United States.

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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