The government plans to buy some 13,000 tons of distributors' beef stocks on a temporary basis in line with a rigorous inspection due to begin today on all cows to be processed for human consumption.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tsutomu Takebe said Wednesday the move comes as meat sales continue to sag after the confirmation of the first case of mad cow disease in Japan in late September.
The purchasing price will be the wholesale price before the mad cow scare came to light -- 1,150 yen per kg -- and is expected to cost the government some 15 billion yen.