Japan’s health ministry will relax the age limit on U.S. beef to 30 months from 20 months next year after it receives approval from the nation’s Food Safety Commission as early as this month.

The United States has banned exports from XL Foods following an outbreak of E. coli-related illnesses in Canada that could stem from the plant.

Indonesia became the first country to suspend exports of U.S. beef after the discovery of a BSE-infected cow in California earlier this week.

Exports of U.S. pork, beef and lamb set new records across the board in 2011, reaching all-time highs in both volume and value and exceeding $11.5 billion in total value.

JBS SA is cutting Argentine exports to focus on domestic sales after government restrictions prompted a plant closure.

Japan halted beef imports from a JBS Swift plant in Grand Island, Neb., after finding material prohibited under rules to control the risk of mad cow disease.

According to Bloomberg news reports, Japan is preparing to ease restrictions on U.S. beef imports in the wake of a drop in domestic cattle production after the country's earthquake-related nuclear disasters.

August was another outstanding month for U.S. pork and beef exports, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

Jim Lochner, chief operating officer of Tyson Foods Inc., said a new paradigm exists in the supply/demand fundamentals in U.S. protein production.

Tyson Foods Inc. and Smithfield Foods Inc. will likely raise shipments to Japan because of disruption to the company’s output due to the recent natural disasters, analysts said.