Beef traceability systems in Japan - how should New Zealand
prepare?
T. OZAWA, N. LOPEZ-VILLALOBOS AND H.T. BLAIR
Department of Animal Science, Nippon Veterinary and Animal
Science University, Tokyo, 180-8602 Japan
E-Mail:
NZSAP 2003 Abstract No. 13
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production
63: 49-52
Interviews were held with National Federation of Agricultural
Cooperative Association (NFACA), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries (MAFF) and New Zealand Meat Board staff to describe current
beef traceability systems operating in Japan following the BSE incident
there in 2001. Some suggested actions for the New Zealand beef industry
to become more competitive against domestically produced beef are
described from a traceability perspective. It is concluded that there is
no sustainable, complete (from farm to consumer) beef traceability
systems being operated in Japan, not only by domestic producers or
retailers, but also by overseas companies. Domestic traceability systems
are either facing financial problems (NFACA system) or functional
problems (MAFF system). This means that if New Zealand adopts a farm to
consumer traceability system in the Japanese market, it will be the
pioneer and will be recognised, as "clean and green", not only by
nuance, but also in practice by the Japanese consumer. The main problem
for New Zealand adopting such a traceability system in the Japanese
market is balancing anticipated expenses versus expected financial
return to the New Zealand beef producer.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
traceability system; Japan; New Zealand; beef
Last Updated 8/07/2004
