Japan to halt US beef imports

Japan will halt US beef imports following the discovery of material considered at risk of mad cow disease in an imported shipment, Kyodo News agency reported today.

The report did not cite a source for the information.

Yumiko Sakurai, an official with the Japanese Agriculture Ministry, said she could not immediately confirm the report, but that the ministry was preparing a statement.

Japan in December partially lifted a two-year-old ban on American beef imports imposed in 2003 following the discovery of the first case of mad cow disease in the US herd.