On 28 January 2013, the Japanese Agriculture Department announced to lift import restrictions on beef originating in the United States and Canada. Previously, imports of cattle older than 20 months was prohibited. From 1 February 2013 onwards, beef imports of cattle up to 30 months old is allowed.
 
The age restrictions were initially imposed to prevent the spreading of mad cow desease (BSE). The restrictions can no longer be considered BSE related, because the World Organzisation for Animal Health (OIE) has given the same BSE classification to the US and the EU, while the latter did not face these additional trade barriers when exporting beef to Japan.