TOKYO, May 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Japan has expressed opposition to a set of proposals related to mad cow disease by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), including designating cow milk, semen and leather as materials free of the possibility of spreading the disease, Kyodo News reported Wednesday.

    In a letter sent to the Paris-based OIE, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said there are no new scientific data suggesting these cow-derived materials are safe, Kyodo quoted ministry officials as saying.

    The OIE made the proposal to designate them as products that can be safely traded, among other proposals on mad cow disease and other animal diseases, for discussion during its six-day general meeting beginning May 23 in Paris.

    The organization consists of top veterinarians from its 165 member countries and territories, and meets every May to review its standards on animal health and safety.

    Japan also opposed a separate OIE proposal to ease safety measures against mad cow disease. Under current OIE safety standards, brains and other body parts deemed to have a high risk should be removed from cows that are at least six months old.

    But the OIE proposed removing the parts from cows that are at least 12 months old. Japan opposed this in light of the fact that mad cow disease has been detected in younger cows in Japan, the officials said.

    However, Japan also opposed a new proposal to remove the entireintestines aimed at reinforcing safety, compared with the current OIE recommendation of removing only parts of the intestines.

    The ministry said in the letter that cow intestines are safe except for certain parts. Cow derma is used in a popular dish in Japan. Enditem