VOA慢速英语20060627a

AGRICULTURE REPORT - Japan Awaits Final Tests Before End to Ban on U.S. BeefBy Mario Ritter

Broadcast: Mon, 26 Jun 2006 16:00:00 UTC

I'm Steve Ember with the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.




Japan agreed last week to import beef from the United States again. But first, Japanese officials will inspect American meat processors as a final step to be sure the beef is safe.

The Japanese government banned American beef in December of two thousand three. At that time, the United States reported its first case of mad cow disease. The official name is bovine¹ spongiform encephalopathy, or B.S.E. Scientists link the brain disease in cows to a rare version in humans.

The Japanese government eased its import ban last December, after two years. But the discovery in January of backbone² material in a shipment of meat led officials to renew the ban. Experts say spinal³ cords may spread B.S.E.

To reduce the risk of B.S.E., beef products exported to Japan must come from cattle twenty months or younger.

Under the new agreement, Japanese experts will inspect all thirty-five American meat-processing centers permitted to export to Japan. The teams are expected to finish their work by July twenty-first.

In the future, Japanese officials will be able to join American inspectors⁴ for surprise inspections⁵. Also, Japan has agreed to consider steps like the rejection⁶ of individual shipments instead of a complete ban.

The agreement followed long negotiations⁷ by agricultural and trade officials. Lawmakers in Congress have proposed to punish Japan with high customs if it does not open its market by August thirty-first.

The United States was one of the largest exporters of beef until the finding of B.S.E. in a cow in Washington state in two thousand three. After that, exports dropped by more than eighty percent. A second infected cow was found in Texas last year.

But exports have started to recover. The government says it expects American farmers to export more than four hundred thousand metric tons of beef this year. Still, that is less than half the levels in two thousand three.

The United States is the world's largest producer and user of beef, as well as the biggest importer. Japan is the second biggest importer. But until two thousand three, it was the top market for American beef. That year, Japan imported more than one thousand million dollars worth. Since then, Australia and New Zealand have increased their beef exports to Japan.

This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by Mario Ritter. If you would to read and listen to our report online, go to www.unsv.com. I'm Steve Ember.

1 bovine   

adj.牛的；n.牛

参考例句：

• He threw off his pack and went into the rush-grass andand munching,like some bovine creature.他丢开包袱，爬到灯心草丛里，像牛似的大咬大嚼起来。
• He was a gentle,rather bovine man.他是一位文雅而反应迟钝的人。

2 backbone   

n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气

参考例句：

• The Chinese people have backbone.中国人民有骨气。
• The backbone is an articulate structure.脊椎骨是一种关节相连的结构。

3 spinal   

adj.针的，尖刺的，尖刺状突起的；adj.脊骨的，脊髓的

参考例句：

• After three days in Japan,the spinal column becomes extraordinarily flexible.在日本三天，就已经使脊椎骨变得富有弹性了。
• Your spinal column is made up of 24 movable vertebrae.你的脊柱由24个活动的脊椎骨构成。

4 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 rejection   

n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃

参考例句：

• He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。
• The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒绝使她陷入了绝望的深渊。

7 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。