The Occurrence of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in Japan from the Viewpoint of Political Science / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

The Japanese government's response to the recent discovery of dairy cows suffering from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in this country was analyzed from the viewpoint of policy science with reference to the policy in the United Kingdom and other EU countries. The results of investigation into the causative agent (s) androutes of infection of BSE that affected a total of seven cows were reviewed and the points at issue during the course of the epidemiological survey were given. Despite repeated warnings from the UK, EU and WHO, adequate countermeasures were not taken by the government offices concerned-the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labor. They failed to prevent the occurrence of BSE and the resultant panic among consumers. The present review brought to lighta lack of a sense of urgency and risk management system in the government, the moral hazard in the food industry and market, the blunder of the government officials and the absence of an adequate food safety surveillance system. At the same time, we presented some proposals as to what the future food safety policy should be.