Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Chikara Sakaguchi voiced caution Friday about a possible end to blanket tests for mad cow disease in Japan, saying a policy change of this kind needs to be based on scientific grounds.
Sakaguchi, who introduced testing on all slaughtered cattle in 2001 in the wake of the first outbreak of the disease in the country, told a news conference: "We have to think about people's feeling as well as scientific issues. We will examine whether we can provide data that reassure consumers.
"I made a decision on (introducing) the blanket testing. I am opposed to a hasty review."