Lucas Statement on Resumption of U.S. Beef Exports to Japan

LUCAS STATEMENT ON RESUMPTION OF U.S. BEEF EXPORTS TO JAPAN
December 12, 2005

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Third District Congressman Frank Lucas made the following statement on the announcement today that the Japanese market has reopened to U.S. beef exports.
Lucas has urged the use of sound science in reopening the U.S. export beef market. He met with Japanese Ambassador Ryozo Kato and other members of the House Agriculture Committee earlier this year to encourage the end of Japan's restriction of beef imports from the U.S. under the pretense of a threat of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy.
Japan is a major market for U.S. beef. In 2003, the United States exported $1.4 billion worth of beef and beef products to Japan:

"This is great news for the U.S. beef market and our Oklahoma beef producers. I'm pleased we were finally able to convince the Japanese government to use scientific methods to determine that U.S. beef is safe from BSE.

"But I would have liked to see this decision a long time ago. We have known since the Japanese ban was enacted that U.S. beef is safe, and I believe that the Japanese dragged their feet on this issue, causing our producers to lose market share. Unfortunately, I believe financial considerations were being made, instead of the real issues of ensuring food safety and using sound science.

"Now we must focus our efforts on those countries - Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore - that inexplicably remain closed to U.S. beef imports. I hope that Japan's announcement today will help officials in those countries see the light that the U.S. beef supply is not only safe, but the highest quality beef in the world. We will continue our work to enlighten them of this fact."

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ok03_lucas/japanmarketopen.html