TOKYO (AP) - Japan announced the resumption of U.S. beef imports Thursday, ending a ban that virtually lasted 2 1/2 years due to concerns about mad cow disease and removing a strain in relations with Washington.

The U.S. ambassador immediately welcomed the move, which reopens Japan's lucrative market to a select list of U.S. meat exporters, saying it resolved an issue of primary importance to the United States.

"We are pleased that Japanese auditors and officials have found our process to be sound, and we are proud that our system is scientifically based and exceeds internationals standards," a statement from Ambassador Thomas Schieffer said.

The latest ban was imposed in January, when Japanese inspectors checking a veal shipment found banned parts believed to be at risk for the illness. It was lifted after Japanese representatives toured U.S. facilities to ensure they met safety guidelines.

Health Minister Jiro Kawasaki announced the lifting of the ban after the Agriculture Ministry's mad cow advisory committee approved a resumption in imports.

"We think it is possible to guarantee safety, so long as the U.S. observes its export program to Japan," Kawasaki said.

"We strongly hope that the U.S. will ensure compliance with the export program."

However, he said Japan will renew the ban if problems arise.

Japanese inspectors returned from a monthlong tour of 35 facilities in the United States on Sunday to evaluate whether they comply with safeguards against mad cow disease. Japan requested the tour in June as a condition for its agreement in principle to resume imports.

Kawasaki said the inspectors found no problems at 20 of the 35 facilities. Thirteen of the 15 facilities with problems had made sufficient improvements by Thursday to be eligible for export to Japan, he said.

Of the remaining pair, one facility will be kept under close surveillance, while the other's exports will not be allowed in Japan until inspections are conducted, he said.

The government and importers will inspect all shipments to ensure dangerous parts are not included, Kawasaki said. Officials inspected only part of shipments before the import ban. The Health Ministry said about 900 tonnes of beef products from the United States. that have been held up at Japanese ports since the January import ban will not be released until officials ensure the safety among fresh shipments.

The Health Ministry will also monitor how well the United States observes its export-verification program over the next six months, a ministry statement said. There are no plans to add more facilities to the list of those approved for export to Japan during that period, it said.

Under an agreement between the countries, all U.S. beef shipped to Japan must come from cattle less than 20 months old and no brain or spinal material can be included because the disease can be carried in that tissue.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said late Thursday: "We're resuming imports after confirming the safety (of U.S. beef). From now on we'll let the Japanese consumers decide."

But opposition Democratic Party of Japan deputy chief Kenji Yamaoka called the resumption "a political decision succumbing to U.S. government pressure" and criticized the government for "neglecting consumers' food safety and concerns."

At the White House, presidential spokesman Tony Snow greeted the decision "with satisfaction."

"U.S. beef is safe. The prime minister had an opportunity to sample it during his trip to the United States on multiple occasions."

"And we look forward to seeing U.S. beef re-enter the Japanese marketplace," Snow said.

Shipments from the 34 approved plants are likely to arrive in Japan in two weeks if shipped by sea, Kyodo News Agency said. But recent polls have shown the majority of Japanese consumers plan to stay away from U.S. beef and Japanese beef importers said Thursday there is no sign their clients are rushing to place orders.

Japan was a huge consumer of U.S. beef before December 2003, when it imposed the original ban amid concerns of possible mad cow disease - formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE - among U.S. cattle.

"This has been a long process as we've confirmed that our system is in full compliance with Japan's import requirements," U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said in a statement.

He proposed bilateral talks be held later this year to discuss beef trade and the possibility of a lowering of safeguard requirements.

In 2003, Japan bought about $1.4 billion worth, or about 10 per cent of U.S. beef sales. Some U.S. senators had threatened sanctions unless imports were restarted within weeks.

"I look forward to the day when we resume that level of trade," Johanns said.

Mad cow disease - formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE - is a degenerative nerve disease in cattle. In humans, eating meat contaminated with BSE is linked to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a rare and deadly nerve disease.

© The Canadian Press 2006