Japan's Mad Cow Experience Means Tough Sell ...to Lift Import Ban

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Japan's Mad Cow Experience Means Tough Sell for U.S. Officials Eager to Lift Import Ban

By Gary Schaefer Associated Press Writer
Published: Dec 29, 2003

"TOKYO (AP) - Stunned by its first case of mad cow disease two years ago, Japan spent tens of millions of dollars winning back consumer confidence with a system to test every cow for the brain-wasting illness before slaughter."

/snip/ . . (If Japan can do this , Why not the USA ? - I know, Koprate Greed comes to mind)

"Japan had to equip about 120 meat hygiene-inspection centers with testing kits imported from France and increase the number of inspectors, spending about $65 million in the first two years of the program just on testing and upgrading facilities, according to the Health Ministry. "

/snip/

"The most recent confirmed infection was in November and involved the youngest-ever animal, a 21-month-old bull. It strengthened the case for those who argue for testing of animals younger than 30 months, and officials say the tighter screening system has done its job - keeping meat from infected animals from finding its way onto dinner plates.

"This is how Japanese beef regained the trust of consumers after the BSE scare here," the Asahi newspaper said in an editorial last week. "It will not be possible to resume U.S. imports while consumer anxiety lingers."

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGACLR2WSOD.html

I think the USA just got "told" .

And like I said above, if Japan can do this, there is no excuse for the USA or ANY other country not doing these checks