Australia: Discovery of LSD in Japan sees Wagyu exports suspended

JAPAN has voluntarily suspended its exports of Wagyu beef to a range of countries including Australia, following the first detection of Lumpy Skin Disease in a dairy herd in the prefecture of Fukuoka on Wednesday. Lumpy Skin Disease is sweeping other parts of North Asia, with South Korea reporting more than 150 outbreaks over the past 12 months, but this is the first detection in Japan. Japanese authorities have temporarily suspended the issuance of animal quarantine certificates for Japanese beef exported to Australia. Although negotiations are being held to resume exports, there was little hope that trade would be re-opened soon, a trade contact said. In 2023, the total value of Japanese beef exports worldwide was 57.8 billion yen, or the equivalent of A$566 million. The small volume of exports to Australia last year were worth 700 million yen or A$6.8 million. Japan regained access to the Australian beef market in 2018, after pressing for a resumption of access for beef exports ...