The Japanese parliament enacted legislation Friday to boost protection of the genetic materials of wagyu beef cattle, such as fertilized eggs and semen, amid concern over illegal breeding efforts overseas on the back of the growing popularity of the premium beef.The new legislation will crack down on the smuggling and improper trading of the cattle's genetic materials, protected as "intellectual property," that have been carefully developed through years of selective breeding,It will allow local animal husbandry laboratories and other entities in Japan to seek injunctions against the unauth…READ FULL ARTICLE
