Japan Lifts Ban on Imports of Italian Beef
May 24
11:38
2016
Japan has lifted an embargo on Italian beef in place for 15 years, following an earlier opening of its market to beef products from other EU Member States (France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Denmark and Sweden).
Japan introduced an import ban on beef from the EU in 2001, referring to an alleged risk of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy. This measure went beyond the international standards set by the World Organisation for Animal Health, and did not take into account the EU’s stringent control and surveillance measures guaranteeing the safety of European beef and beef products.
