Japan to check U.S meat-packers

Japanese inspectors will start a two-week tour of U.S. meatpacking plants to check whether beef for export to Japan is being processed safely in compliance with a bilateral agreement.
If no problems are found, the plants will move to random checks from the current system in which all beef exports to Japan are checked.
U.S. beef exports to Japan have been limited to meat from cattle 20 months or younger as a result of concern that older cattle are likelier to be infected with the disease.
If no safety problems are found during the inspections, Japan and the United States are expected to launch negotiations on upping the age limit.

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