Comprehensive testing for mad cow disease is unlikely to start simultaneously nationwide on Oct. 18, as scheduled, because some municipalities need more time to prepare the new testing methods, health ministry sources said Saturday.
In an emergency survey by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry covering 84 prefectures and municipalities with slaughterhouses, 50 said they will be able to start the inspection as scheduled.
Nine said inspection kits will not arrive in time, while 18 said they do not even know when the test implements will become available, according to the survey. The local governments reported on their preparations before Friday.