ＢＳＥ対策 自治体は全頭検査を打ち切れ

The Yomiuri Shimbun April 13, 2013
EDITORIAL / Local govts should eliminate blanket testing of cattle for mad cow disease
ＢＳＥ対策　自治体は全頭検査を打ち切れ（4月12日付・読売社説）

The inspection standard for testing domestic cattle for mad cow disease, which the central government has tasked to the local governments, are expected to be eased as early as July.
　国が自治体に求めている国産牛のＢＳＥ（牛海綿状脳症）検査の基準が７月にも緩和される。

An expert panel of the Cabinet Office's Food Safety Commission approved Wednesday a draft report to raise the age limit for domestic cattle subject to testing for the disease, formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, from the current "31 months old or older" to "more than 48 months old."
　内閣府・食品安全委員会の専門調査会が、検査対象を現行の「月齢３１か月以上」から「４８か月超」へ引き上げる答申案を了承した。

The panel concluded that the risk posed to humans of easing the inspection standard would be "negligible," based on data showing that the majority of cows in Japan and other countries confirmed to have BSE were older than 48 months.
　国内外で確認されたほとんどのＢＳＥ感染牛が４８か月超だったデータなどから、検査基準を緩めても、「人の健康への影響は無視できる」と結論付けた。

BSE on decline worldwide

We believe the panel's conclusion is appropriate, as it is based on scientific knowledge and the latest situation regarding mad cow disease.
　科学的知見と最近の状況を踏まえた妥当な判断である。

In Europe, where mad cow disease was once rampant, cattle younger than 72 months old are exempted from BSE test, far more relaxed than Japan's planned inspection standard. Moreover, it is being discussed with a view toward further easing the regulation.
　ＢＳＥが猛威を振るった欧州では、日本の新基準より緩い７２か月超だった検査対象を、さらに絞り込む方向になっている。

About 1.2 million cattle are slaughtered a year for meat consumption in this country, most of which range from 20 months old to less than 40 months. When the proposed age limit for cattle is introduced, most cows will become exempt from the inspections.
　国内で１年間に食肉処理される約１２０万頭の大半は２０～３０か月台だ。新基準の導入後、ほとんどが検査対象外になるだろう。

Since the first case of BSE in Japan was reported in September 2001, incidence of the disease has drastically declined worldwide thanks to regulations that ban the use of ruminant feed mixed with meat-and-bone meal.
　２００１年９月に国内で初めて発見されたＢＳＥは、牛の餌に混ぜられた肉骨粉の使用を禁止する飼料規制によって世界的に激減した。

No BSE-infected cow has been found in Japan since the last, a cow born in January 2002.
日本では０２年１月に生まれた牛を最後に見つかっていない。

An international watchdog on the incidence of BSE, the World Organization for Animal Health, is expected to designate Japan as having "negligible risk" of mad cow disease.
　ＢＳＥの発生状況を監視する国際獣疫事務局も来月、日本をＢＳＥのリスクが無視できる国として正式決定する見通しだ。

Under these circumstances, the nation's domestic BSE problem can be said to have almost been brought to an end.
　これで国内のＢＳＥ問題は、ほぼ終息したと言えよう。

However, a related problem is the blanket testing of beef from domestic cattle that local governments have continued to impose.
　気がかりなのは、自治体が実施している全頭検査である。

Even after the central government has gradually eased the testing criteria, prefectures, including Tokyo and Hokkaido, and other municipalities in charge of meat inspections, continue to test cattle, including young cows with no risk of BSE, at their discretion. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry still doles out about 500 million yen a year in subsidies for the tests.
　国の基準が段階的に緩和された後も、食肉検査を受け持つ都道府県などは、安全性に問題のない若い牛も含めて検査対象にしてきた。厚生労働省も依然、年約５億円の補助金を出している。

Many local governments say the testing is necessary to "secure consumers' sense of safety."
　多くの自治体は「消費者の安心のため」と理由を説明する。

However, the local governments are presumably reluctant to terminate the blanket inspections prior to other municipalities because they are concerned that the spread of unfounded fears could lead to sagging sales of locally produced beef.
だが、実際は、他自治体に先行して全頭検査を終了すれば、風評被害で地元産牛肉の販売不振につながることを恐れているのだろう。

Fears of negative rumors

Japan is the only country in the world that has kept blanket cattle inspections in place to mitigate the spread of BSE.
　ＢＳＥ対策で異例の全頭検査を実施しているのは日本だけだ。

However, if such inspections continue, they could end up backfiring, leading to a misperception abroad that Japanese beef may not be safe.
これを継続することは、かえって、日本の牛肉は安全ではない、といった誤解を与えかねない。

It has already been shown that there is no need to stick to blanket testing of domestic cattle at the expense of precious budgetary appropriations and human resources. We believe local governments should end their blanket testing as soon as possible.
　大切な予算と人員をつぎ込んでまで、全頭検査にこだわる必要はもはやない。自治体は、全頭検査を早期に終了すべきである。

The ministry, for its part, must provide full explanations to consumers that terminating the blanket inspections poses no significant risk to human health. Subsidies the ministry has been providing for local governments to do the testing at their own judgment must also be done away with.
　厚労省は、全頭検査を終了しても安全性に問題がないことを消費者に十分説明することが求められる。自治体が独自に行う検査への補助金も打ち切るべきだ。

The central government, which in February eased import restrictions on foreign beef, should consider further easing based on the scientific risk evaluation.
　政府が２月から見直した外国産牛の輸入規制についても、科学的なリスク評価に基づき、さらなる緩和を検討してもらいたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 12, 2013)
（2013年4月12日01時42分  読売新聞）