Japan and the United States remain far apart on lifting the import ban on U.S. beef, and negotiations could be prolonged, farm minister Yoshiyuki Kamei said Tuesday.
"Both have different views on the issue and I think it will take time to narrow the difference," Kamei, minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, told a news conference.
Talks between the two countries have stalled over Japan's call for the U.S. to undertake blanket cattle testing for mad cow disease.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman proposed recently that Japan and the U.S. ask the Paris-based Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to make a judgment by the end of April to break the impasse.
"The OIE is supposed to discuss the (mad cow disease) issue at its general assembly meeting in May and it seems difficult to reach a conclusion by the end of April," Kamei said, adding he cannot understand why Washington made such a proposal.
The OIE is tasked with guaranteeing the transparency of animal disease status around the globe.
"We have repeatedly explained our policy and we want (Washington) to respond in a practical manner," Kamei said.
He has urged the U.S. to test all slaughtered cattle for mad cow disease in the same way as in Japan to confirm the safety of beef products before the ban can be lifted.
Washington has rejected blanket testing, saying it is not a scientifically based approach.
The Japan Food Service Association said in a statement later in the day that the government's refusal of the U.S. proposal will "further distance the two countries from the negotiating table, and this is very regrettable. We do not see any readiness on the part of the Japanese government to quickly solve this issue."