TOKYO – Japan said Friday that it has lifted import bans on beef from two U.S. meat packing plants after the companies’ plans to improve safety were reviewed.
Japanese authorities had earlier this year stopped imports from the Souderton, Penn., plant run by the Smithfield Beef Group and National Beef California LP after unauthorized shipments that contained parts believed to pose a risk of mad cow disease. Shipments from the Smithfield plant were suspended in January after meat from a 21-month old cow was found. Japan halted imports from the National Beef plant in April, when its shipment contained spinal cord.