| Issue # 3, BSE: Problems with the Food Safety Commission Report December
2005 |
Food Safety Citizens'Watch was established in April 2003 as a network of
experts to monitor developments and make proposals to the government regarding
food safety issues from the citizen's point of view.
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| Problems with the Food Safety Commission Report: Citizens Act to Protest |
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Problems with the Food Safety Commission Report:
Citizens Act to Protest |
The Prion Expert Committee, a Japanese government expert panel, released its report on October 31, 2005 and issued a risk evaluation of U.S. beef. They concluded that the difference in BSE infection risk between beef and internal organs from Japanese and U.S. cattle is very small, if the cattle are 20 months old or younger, and if strict precautions are taken. This averts the eye from the actual situation in North America, where the danger of BSE is high. Thus to resume the import of U.S. beef is premature, and we concluded that the report was irresponsible.
On October 27, just before the Prion Expert Committee adopted its report,
our different member organizations joined farmer groups and labour unions
for a meeting under the slogan "We don't need U.S. beef". We
staged a joint demonstration outside the Japanese Parliament, and adopted
a protest declaration.
In the declaration, we consider that the lack of regulation in the U.S.
regarding the removal and handling of specified risk material is a problem,
and we critizise the Food Safety Commissionf hypothesis that the regulations
are adhered to. They state that for cattle 20 months old or younger the
risk is very low, but scientists with a conscience on the Commission's
panel know that it is impossible to evaluate the age of a slaughtered cow.
We urged the government to not be in a hurry to reopen Japan's market to
U.S. beef. We also critizised the U.S. attitude to apply unique standards
to gain acceptance on the Japanese market, as such attitude will not completely
eliminate BSE from the world.
After that, we handed over our list of requests, opposing the import of
beef produced in North America to officers at the Food Safety Commission,
the Ministry of Health Welfare and Labour, and the Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries. We also visited officials at the U.S. embassy in
Tokyo and gave them our letter of opposition, explaining that Japan's consumers
do not want U.S. beef to enter Japan. In addition, we handed out leaflets
to people on the streets of Yurakucho, central Tokyo.
In any case, it seems certain that the government will ignore our concerns,
and decide to resume the import of beef produced in North America. At the
Food Safety Commission meeting on November 2, the issue of U.S. beef was
on the agenda, and right away the report from the Prion Expert Committee
was accepted. It was also decided that there would be a 4 week opportunity
for the public to make comments. In spite of the concerns of Japan's consumers,
it probably means that the import ban will soon be lifted. It seems that
they neglect to protect consumers from unsafe food. In fact, we want to
remind our government that they do not have to allow the U.S. to dictate
the food safety policies of Japan.
Yamaura Yasuaki
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(Copyright FSCW August 2005)
Address:
Food Safety Citizens' Watch
c/o Consumers Union of Japan
Nikken Bldg.
75 Waseda-machi, Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo 162-0042, Japan
URL: http://www1.jca.org/foodsafety |
| Food Safety Citizens' Watch Newsletter |
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