In the first such delivery since Japan lifted a two-year embargo, a shipment of US beef has arrived by plane in Tokyo. The embargo was imposed over mad cow disease concerns. The 0.3 tons of tongue, 4.6-ton cargo and other internal organs arrived at Narita airport near Tokyo. It happens in an order by leader meat company Marudai Food. Quarantine officials are to check if Harris Ranch Beef of California, the exporter, keeps the safety conditions, being set by the Japanese government. The conditions include also the removal of risky parts. Marudai will continue to import US beef. But is will decide how much it will buy for what purposes depending on the tasting results. A year before the ban was imposed, the company used to sell 40,000 tons of processed US beef at the cost of 30 billion yen. Japan lifted the embargo on some US beef on Monday. It happens after intense US pressure.

<< Tokyo News Archive