News

OIE upgrades Japan's BSE status

The world animal health body OIE has upgraded Japan’s BSE status to “controlled risk” which puts the country on the same level as the U.S., Canada and the UnitedKingdom.

There are three BSE risk categories: Negligible, Controlled and Undetermined. Controlled risk status is granted to countries where even though cases of the disease are still being found, adequate measures are being taken including the removal of specified riskmaterials.

Japan had sought the upgrade hoping to open more markets to beef exports. Some think the U.S. can use that new status to leverage the Japanese to open their borders a little wider to U.S. beef.