Local Japanese Agencies Continue BSE Testing Alone

JAPAN - All 77 of the nation's meat inspection stations plan to continue testing domestically slaughtered cattle aged 20 months or younger for mad cow disease after central government subsidies for the testing end in August, it was learned Friday.

Some of the local government-administered inspection stations said they would continue testing the cows for bovine spongiform encephalopathy as consumer confidence in beef safety has not yet recovered.

This stance differs from that of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, which has been calling for the stations to end the testing as the safety of the beef has been scientifically verified.

The blanket testing of cattle started in October 2001, with the central government covering the testing costs.

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Source: Daily Yomiuri Online

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