Japan agreed Wednesday to lift its ban on U.S. beef imports after on-site inspections of U.S. meatpackers by Japanese experts starting early next week, Japanese officials said.

Tokyo's first group of experts is expected leave Japan Saturday to start checking some of the 35 U.S. beef processing facilities authorized to ship beef to Japan, a condition set forth by Tokyo in the latest talks before resuming imports, the officials said.

It will take about a month to complete the process, the officials said. Actual sales of U.S. beef in Japan are expected to begin at the end of July.