May 2, 2009
US feed ban delay could hurt Japan, Korea consumer confidence
The US'' decision to delay new feed restrictions to prevent the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad-cow disease, among US cattle, to late October, could also lead to delays in improved Japanese and Korean consumer confidence in the safe of US beef, according to government officials.
Officials of Japan and South Korea said while the enhanced feed ban could improve consumer confidence of the safety of US beef, the benefit would likely not occur until the new rules are implemented.
A South Korean official said the country had pressed the US not to delay implementation, though the agriculture ministry''s chief veterinary officer Chang Ki-yoon had said the delay would not affect beef imports from the US.
Though the implementation of the feed ban could improve Japanese confidence in the safety of US beef, Japan''s age restriction rule will not be immediately affected because feed bans only become effective months after implementation, a Japanese official said.
While Japan has yet to determine when the US enhanced feed ban will be effective, it is estimated that the date on which the feed ban is effective would 20 months to two years after compliance, because cattle are normally slaughtered around 20 months of age, the Japanese official said.
The official said the US government has not yet engaged the Japanese government to ease Japan''s beef restrictions, because the US administration is still new and shaping up.
Once the talks resume, the two countries can revisit the issue of the date on which the US enhanced feed ban provides effective protection against BSE, the official said.
Under the enhanced feed ban, no specified risk materials (SRMs) from cattle older than 30 months of age can be used in feed given to other species such as hogs or poultry.