U.S. sheep and goat meat has regained access to Japan

U.S. sheep and goat meat has regained access to Japan, after an absence of nearly 15 years, USDA announced.Japan was a primary market for American lamb before Japan banned U.S. sheep and goat meat exports in December 2003 after bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was detected in the U.S. cattle herd.Already the leading value market for U.S. beef and pork, Japan presents an exceptional opportunity for significant export growth, the U.S. Meat Export Federation said in a statement. U.S. lamb has been well-received in other upscale markets, including Taiwan, which reopened to U.S. lamb in 2016, USMEF said.Dan Halstrom, USMEF president and CEO, said the announcement lays the groundwork for a much-needed boost for lamb exports.Japan’s lamb imports reached a record value of $168 million last year, up 26 percent year over year. Australia and New Zealand are the top suppliers of lamb to Japan.