Japan To Raise Beef Imports

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30977, 5 February 1966, Page 16

Japan To Raise Beef Imports

Japan expected to double its imports of beef in the 1966 fiscal year, Mr K. Suga, president of the Livestock Industry Promotion Corporation of Japan, said in Christchurch yesterday.

In the 1965 year ending in March, Mr Suga said, Japan would be importing from all sources 10,000 tons of beef. In the 1966 period it was expecting to import 20,000 tons, and that meant that his counry would be expecting more beef from New Zealand. Mr Suga said that his corporation, which had been established four years ago, had the function of stabilising the domestic price for all dairy produce, except natural cheese and casein, and also beef and pork. From April 1 this year it would become the sole importer of dairy produce. In the beef field it would work alongside other importers, who were given allocations by the Japanese Government. The corporation, he said, had no functions in relation to mutton and lamb, which were free import items. At present, Mr Suga said, he had no idea of the quantities of dairy produce that would be imported, and while these would not be so large they would include some considerable amounts of butter, dry skim milk and whey powder. Mutton Though mutton did not come under the jurisdiction of his organisation, Mr Suga said, it was used in the production of ham and sausage and these items were among the most popular in the public diet in Japan. This meant that mutton should be cheap. Consumption would depend on price. If New Zealand could provide this commodity at a cheap price, imports would increase. Japanese, he said, were not accustomed to lamb, particularly its smell and taste, so that so far it was not so popular. Mr Suga added, however, that he understood the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board was carrying on a programme in Japan to make people conversant with how lamb should be cooked and provided this was continued the prospects should be good. Price Important

Mr Suga said that his organisation carried its importing business by tender and while supplies had to conform with specifications, price was naturally the most important factor. The primary purpose of the organisation,' he said, was to promote the Japanese livestock industry which was a most important aspect of the agricultural policy of his country. The purpose of the visit of himself and Mr K. Gejo, chief of the planning and investi-

gation section of the corporation, was to see the actual production in the factory of beef and dairy produce, and to exchange views with the Government, the Meat and Dairy Boards and producers. Mr Gejo said that a prime function of the organisation was to balance domestic production and imports with consumption.