Japan halted beef imports from a U.S. packing plant after finding material prohibited under rules to control the risk of mad cow disease, the government said on Wednesday.
The 15th confirmed violation by U.S. beef suppliers since Tokyo last resumed imports in July 2006 came as Japan's Food Safety Commission, upon request from the health ministry, is scheduled to start reviewing the existing import rules on U.S. and Canadian beef on Thursday.
Japan, which has tightened regulations on beef imports following the outbreak of mad cow disease, known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE, currently allows imports of beef only from cattle aged 20 months or younger and excludes parts considered as risky. (Reuters)
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