Japan to apply for resumption of meat exports

Japan is set to apply for a resumption of meat exports, following health checks of livestock that confirmed no foot-and-mouth infections in the southern prefecture of Miyazaki.

The agriculture ministry and Miyazaki Prefecture, which was hit by an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in April, started checking more than 6,000 cattle at farms chosen at random earlier this month.

Veterinarians inspected the cattle for any symptoms of the disease and took blood samples from 2,100 for further tests. No suspected cases have been found.

Japan has suspended exports of beef, pork and other meat products since April, apart from shipments to some countries and territories.

In order to resume meat exports, a country must gain certification from the World Organization for Animal Health, known as the OIE, that the country is free from foot-and-mouth disease.

The agriculture ministry plans to apply for the certification to the OIE in early October.

In February next year, an OIE committee will determine whether to put Japan back on the list of foot-and-mouth disease-free countries. Consultation with countries receiving the meat will also be needed.