Govt (Japan) announces lifting of beef cattle shipment ban

[FBaggins]

The Japanese government has announced that it will lift all the remaining bans on shipments of beef cattle after ensuring that sufficient radiation tests are conducted. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said on Thursday that the government has notified the prefectural governors of Fukushima, Iwate and Tochigi that bans on the transfer and shipment of beef cattle to other prefectures will be lifted.

Edano cited measures to be taken for ensuring the safety management of cattle rearing and shipment, as well as radiation tests to be carried out on all cows raised in the region. He said that if the tests find any cattle whose levels of radioactive cesium exceed the government's safety limit, their shipment will be banned.

He added that he wants the public to understand that any exemption will mean that the safety measures are working. The bans have been in place in the 3 prefectures and in Miyagi since July 19th after radioactive cesium exceeding government safety levels was detected in beef from cattle that had been fed contaminated rice straw.

The ban in Miyagi was lifted on August 19th and with the latest decision, the distribution of beef from all areas of the country will be permitted.

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/25_28.html