Indonesia revokes beef import ban on Japan to diversify supply

JAKARTA, Aug 22 (Reuters): Indonesia has revoked a four-year ban on beef and cattle imports from Japan, in a move to reduce dependence on Australian shipments and diversify its supply sources, an official in the Southeast Asian nation's agriculture ministry said on Friday.
The move follows the announcement this week of talks that will allow the resumption of Indonesian poultry exports to Japan, and after the Japanese foreign minister visited Jakarta last week. Indonesia banned Japanese beef imports in early 2010 following concerns over foot and mouth disease.
Southeast Asia's biggest economy has loosened its rules on beef and cattle shipments after a beef shortage and corruption scandal last year, and has been looking at alternative importers after a diplomatic spat with its main supplier Australia.
Even before the ban, Japan hardly exported any beef to Indonesia, but the Southeast Asian nation is potentially a new market for its wagyu beef, famed for juiciness and taste, and may help meet the Japanese government's goal of increasing agriculture-related exports.
Beef and cattle consumption in Indonesia is forecast to rise to 560,000 tonnes in 2014 from 549,000 tonnes in 2013, with around 20 per cent likely to be met by imports.