Brussels, 08/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission revealed on Friday 5 February that Japan had lifted its ban on the import of beef from Denmark with effect from 2 February.
The Japanese ban on beef, based on an alleged risk of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), has already been removed for products from France, Ireland, the Netherlands and Poland.
Japan introduced an import ban on beef from the EU in 2001, arguing a risk of BSE. This measure went beyond the international standards set by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and did not take into account the stringent control and surveillance measures in place in the European Union guaranteeing the safety of European beef and beef products, the Commission says.
The various commissioners with responsibility in this area, including Phil Hogan (Agriculture), look forward to seeing Japan open its market to remaining EU member states “in the near future”.
Exports of beef and beef products from the EU to Japan resumed in 2013. The exports from the first 4 authorised member states were worth €4.6 million in the first half of 2015. For Danish beef exports to effectively resume, Denmark will now need to designate the exporting establishments. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)