Most Japanese oppose U.S. beef import restart-poll
October 25, 2005
Reuters
TOKYO - A majority of Japanese are opposed to resuming imports of U.S. beef, banned since the discovery of mad cow disease in the United States in December 2003, a poll published on Wednesday showed.
The daily Asahi Shimbun said 67 percent were opposed to resuming U.S. beef imports, versus 21 percent in favor.
A Japanese panel is close to concluding a study on the safety of U.S. beef, and whether Japan should partially reopen its market. Some members of the panel have said they are concerned about the safety of American beef.
The poll showed that those opposed were the majority in all generations, while women were particularly against lifting the ban with 74 percent saying they disagreed with the move.
Asked whether they wanted to eat U.S. beef after imports were resumed, 67 percent said they would not.
Even among those in favor of easing the ban, one in four said they did not want to eat American beef.
The results of the poll were based on 1,998 responses from people around the country and interviewed over the weekend.
The survey showed that strong concerns about food safety persisted among Japanese consumers, the Asahi said.
A human version of mad cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is thought to be spread by eating contaminated meat.
It has caused more than 150 deaths worldwide, including one in Japan.
In October last year, Tokyo agreed with Washington to resume imports of beef from cattle aged 20 months or younger, which is considered to be at low risk from the brain-wasting disease.
The two countries agreed that certain safety measures should be imposed, including the removal of specified risk material.
The United States has become increasingly frustrated at Japan for not lifting the ban, which has halted annual trade worth some $1.4 billion from its top beef importer.
