Japan agreed with the United States on Wednesday through a teleconference to lift the reinstated ban on the import of American beef, according to Kyodo News.

The teleconference between senior officials from the two sides started from Tuesday night. It was suspended shortly after midnight and was resumed on Wednesday morning, Japanese government officials were quoted as saying.

Shipments to Japan are limited to beef from cattle aged 20 months or younger, with the brain, spinal cord and other specified risky materials removed, Kyodo said.

Japan's decision comes after the U.S. side strengthened safeguard measures against the mad cow disease, Japanese officials said, adding that the first U.S. beef shipment after the resumption of the trade is expected to arrive in Japan in July at the earliest.

The Japanese government plans to send officials to the United States to examine the implementation of export quarantine measures in U.S. meat-packing facilities, Kyodo said.

Japanese officials are reserved on the prospect of the U.S. beef's popularity on the Japanese market, since many Japanese consumers remain cautious about the safety of the beef.

Japan suspended all U.S. beef imports on Jan. 20, only a month after resuming the trade, as it detected in a U.S. beef shipment a bovine spine, which is banned for imports for fear of the mad cow disease.

Source: Xinhua