06 November 2012, the Japanese Health Ministry decided to ease restrictions on U.S. beef imports. Seven years ago Japan banned U.S. beef from cows older than 20 months, because of the Mad Cow disease.
They will now take beef from cows as old as 30 months. There is one condition, the brain and spinal column must be removed.
Japan is a major buyer of beef from the U.S. state of Idaho, and even with the 20 month age restriction, sales to Japan has helped Idaho's meat industry make about $1 billion USD per year ($2.5 million of that is from exports of beef)!
Japanese health officials say they’re raising the age restriction because there has been no Mad Cow reported in the U.S. for ten years. Unfortunately that is not true, back in April it was confirmed that a cow in the U.S. state of California had the disease.
The real reason is probably economic: Japanese officials claim that more than 90% of U.S. beef exports to the rest of the world are from cows 30 months of age or younger, and their decision to increase their age restriction will help drop the outrageously high beef prices in Japan: “They say U.S. beef prices will come down about 20%, once the ban is eased and imports increase. I think our customers will be happy.”-Grocery store manager in Japan
Another reason could be that U.S. officials, backed by the U.S. beef industry, has been threatening to retaliate by restricting the sale of Japanese beef in the U.S.