VZCZCXRO8512
PP RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB
DE RUEHKO #0008/01 0040514
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 040514Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9531
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 9424
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 8909
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 1904
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 2867
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 0445
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 8405
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000008 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AIAG AMBASSADOR LANGE 
DEPT FOR OES/IHA SINGER AND FENDRICK 
DEPT FOR EAP/J 
USDA PASS TO APHIS 
HHS PASS TO CDC 
HHS FOR OGHA STEIGER, BHAT AND ELVANDER 
DEPT PASS TO AID/GH/HIDN DENNIS CARROLL 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO KFLU KSTH ECON PREL SOCI EAGR JA
SUBJECT: HHS DEPUTY SECRETARY AZAR'S MEETING WITH JAPANESE HEALTH 
MINISTER YANAGISAWA ON DECEMBER 7 
 
 
TOKYO 00000008  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary: On December 7, Department of Health and Human 
Services Deputy Secretary Alex M. Azar II met in Tokyo with Japanese 
Minister of Health, Labor, and Welfare, Hakuo Yanagisawa.  Meeting 
just prior to the Global Health Security Initiative Ministerial, 
they discussed the recent World Health Organization election, the 
U.S. position on revised International Health Regulations, pandemic 
influenza preparedness, and a range of food safety issues. End 
summary. 
 
Message from Secretary Leavitt 
------------------------------ 
¶2. (SBU) On December 7, Department of Health and Human Services 
(HHS) Deputy Secretary Alex Azar met with Japanese Minister of 
Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) Hakuo Yanagisawa just prior to the 
Global Health Security Initiative (GHSI) Ministerial meeting. 
Yanagisawa began the discussion by saying that he was delighted to 
be able to host the GHSI.  He described his first months in oQce, 
and identified Japan's aging population as the biggest challenge he 
faces in reforming his nation's healthcare system.  D/S Azar thanked 
the Minister for his hospitality, and conveyed HHS Secretary Michael 
Leavitt's sincere regret that he could not attend in person.  He 
explained that the Secretary had to stay in Washington to help 
President Bush resolve some urgent financing issues related to U.S. 
health care.  D/S Azar added that Secretary Leavitt wanted to be 
sure that Yanagisawa knew how much the Secretary values his close 
relations with MHLW and with the Government of Japan (GOJ).  D/S 
Azar noted that the U.S. and Japan collaborate on a host of 
bilateral issues and face many similar challenges.  D/S Azar also 
emphasized that, on the international front, the U.S. and Japan are 
strong allies on regional issues such as pandemic influenza 
preparedness. 
 
WHO Director General Election 
----------------------------- 
¶3.  (SBU) D/S Azar turned to the recent election of Dr. Margaret 
Chan as Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), 
noting that the Japanese candidate, Dr. Shigeru Omi, ran a good 
campaign, and that the USG looks forward to continuing to work with 
Dr. Omi in his present capacity as director of WHO's regional office 
for the Western Pacific.  Yanagisawa replied that Japan was 
disappointed that Omi was not chosen to lead the WHO, and opined 
that he would have done an excellent job.  He added that Dr. Omi met 
with Dr. Chan soon after her election, and that she also said that 
she looked forward to working cooperatively with Dr. Omi. 
 
International Health Regulations 
--------------------------------- 
¶4.  (SBU) D/S Azar informed Yanagisawa that Secretary Leavitt was 
about to announce the USG's position on the revised International 
Health Regulations (IHRs), and that the U.S. would file one 
reservation and make three statements of understanding.  The 
reservation would state that the U.S. will implement the IHRs in 
accordance with its federal system.  The statements of understanding 
would comprise 1) an affirmative statement that the IHRs cover 
chemical, biological and radiological events; 2) a statement that 
the U.S. will report public-health incidents in foreign countries as 
far as practicable; and 3) a stipulation that the IHRs do not create 
a separate private right of action in U.S. courts. Yanagisawa said 
the U.S. position sounded appropriate to him, but added that experts 
at the working level would have to examine the issue.  Yanagisawa 
indicated that Japan is still considering its position on the IHRs, 
and would announce its conclusions some time in the future. 
 
Avian Influenza 
---------------- 
¶5.  (SBU) Yanagisawa raised the subject of highly pathogenic avian 
influenza, and mentioned that it was one of his top concerns.  He 
reported that the GOJ had conducted a number of table-top exercises 
over the last year, and intended to conduct additional exercises in 
¶2007.  In his view, working closely with local and provincial 
authorities will be critical in the event of an outbreak. 
Yanagisawa addQ that U.S.-Japan cooperation will also be important, 
and he expressed his desire to continue to work closely with the USG 
on pandemic influenza preparedness. D/S Azar agreed, and mentioned 
 
TOKYO 00000008  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
the particular importance of coordinating the Japanese and U.S. 
anti-viral stockpiles in the region. 
 
Beef Imports and Food Safety 
---------------------------- 
¶6.  (SBU) D/S Azar thanked Yanagisawa for Japan's decision to open 
its market to American beef imports.  He reported that a final 
regulation was forthcoming from the HHS Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA) by the end of December 2006 on the use of animal parts in 
medical products.  D/S Azar noted that the USG has banned animal 
products in ruminant feed for the past eight years, and is assessing 
the implications of extending the ban to all animal feed.  He added 
that a final HHS/FDA regulation on specified risk material in animal 
feed is likely in calendar year 2007, but emphasized that, under 
U.S. law, regulation on such matters must be evidence-based and 
cost-justified.  He offered to keep MHLW and Japan's Food Safety 
Commission (FSC) informed during this process. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) In closing, D/S Azar reiterated the importance of close 
cooperation and consultation on healthcare reform in both countries. 
 He asked Yanagisawa to keep innovation in mind during the process, 
and to take into account the advantages of advanced technology on 
both the long-term costs and the effectiveness of health care. 
 
¶8.  (U) This message has been cleared by HHS. 
 
DONOVAN