A Japanese government panel studying mad cow disease accepted a US proposal on verifying the age of cattle on Tuesday, a move that could end Japan's near 14-month ban on US beef. The panel, composed of scientists and officials from the farm and health ministries, said in a report that a method drawn up by the US government provided an acceptable standard.
How to determine the age of US cattle is a crucial issue in ending the import ban that Japan imposed after the United States reported its first case of mad cow disease in December 2003.
In January, US experts visited Japan to submit a new system of specifying the age of an animal.
The US experts offered data and statistics to show that exports of "A40" grade beef, mainly from cattle aged 12-17 months, should be free of mad cow disease. The panel said in a report that based on evidence provided by the US government, the A40 grading method could be used as a standard to prove an animal was 20 month old or younger.
But it said further monitoring and study were required to ensure the method was safe enough.
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