South Korea, Japan Lift Beef Ban

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http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/8622.html

 

US beef back on South Korea's menu; govt lifts ban on imports

Posted on : Fri, 08 Sep 2006 10:38:00 GMT | Author : Geoffrey Lewis

 

 

SEOUL: South Korea lifted a ban on US beef imports yesterday after its Agriculture Ministry presented a report saying the meat handling facilities of 36 American slaughterhouses met the required safety standards. Consumers are being reassured that the next shipment of beef from the US would be free from the mad cow disease threat.

 

South Korean officials said the country would once again import US beef ending a three year ban that cost the US beef industry losses exceeding $4bn between 2003 and 2005. Reports of an outbreak of the mad cow disease in December 2003 had prompted South Korea, the third largest market for US beef, to suspend imports.

 

 

Japan, the largest importer had reacted similarly by removing all US beef from store shelves and issuing a blanket ban on all US beef products. In June, however Japan resumed imports prompting South Korea to reconsider its decision.

 

The move is expected to improve the trade ties between the two nations which had come under some strain due to the ban. Packaged beef products will arrive in South Korea by the end of this month and would be on store shelves next month. The ministry said the meat would be thoroughly checked for safety issues.

 

The ministry officials expect Japan's resumption of imports to endorse their own decision to lift the ban. They specified certain conditions for the beef's quality: it should be from cattle no older than 30 months; and all risky parts, such as ribs and organs, should be removed prior to packing and shipping.

 

Kim Dal-joong, deputy minister at the agriculture ministry said the report was based on the findings of experts who used international parameters and guidelines to determine if US beef was safe for consumption. Nevertheless, officials would once again check the beef shipments after they arrive, Dal-joong said, a statement aimed to reassure South Korean consumers of tough safety inspections. Consumers in this East Asian country have shown, in past years, a preference for US beef because it is cheaper than the local variety.

 

The US beef industry would need a few years of uninterrupted overseas trade to recover from the setback and achieve former levels of export revenues.

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Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-Chun said Tuesday that Seoul would not accept any US beef from cattle older than 30 months, and would suspend plans to restart imports until Washington complies.

 

"It was a measure to humbly accept the people's will," Chun said.

 

The move comes after the Seoul government announced late Monday that it was delaying its resumption of imports in an effort to ease health fears.

 

Over the weekend, tens of thousands demonstrated over the resumption of US beef imports - a move they say could expose consumers to mad cow disease.

 

More than 200 people were arrested and dozens were hurt as police and demonstrators clashed in the capital.

 

South Korea used to be a major market for US beef, but banned most imports in 2003 after an outbreak of mad cow disease, or BSE, there.