Japan Bans European Beef ImportsJapan's agricultural ministry says it has notified European trade partners that it will ban the import of their beef and related products as a precaution against "mad cow" disease.The ban will take effect on January 1st next year and apply to beef, food made from processed beef and to bull sperm, which is used for breeding. The action, which follows a recommendation to the government by a panel of experts last week, will affect products from the 15 EU member nations, as well as from Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Amid heightened concern over the disease, Japan has gradually tightened restrictions on animal-related products from abroad. |
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