Seoul to Lift Import Ban on U.S. Beef

The United States and Korea agreed to resume beef trade Friday, a prerequisite suggested by the U.S. Congress for the ratification of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement.

Korea is likely to lift its import ban on U.S. beef including rib bones in mid May, at the earliest, allowing domestic consumers access to American meat in June or July.

Korea’s chief negotiator Min Dong-seok held a press conference at the Government Complex Gwacheon, Friday, and announced, “In a negotiation to lift Korea’s import ban on U.S. beef and open Korea’s beef market further, negotiators from the two nations agreed to increase beef import gradually.”

Korea suspended U.S. beef imports in 2003 when mad cow disease was discovered in the United States, resumed the imports in 2006, but suspended again last year after bone fragments were found in some imported U.S. beef.

Min said, “As the first stage, Korea will allow American beef imports from cattle younger than 30 months, including cuts with bones.”

He added, “In the second stage, Korea will also import American beef from cattle older than 30 months if the United States strengthens controls on feed as requested by the World Organization for Animal Health.”

The tight feed control means that American farmers should not give chickens and pigs the feed made of brains and backbones from cattle suspected of having mad cow disease.

Min explained, “Sanitary conditions of beef imports that were agreed upon in this round will take effect 20 days after the announcement of legislation. The United States will begin exporting its beef including ribs mid May, at the earliest.”

Since it takes time for the United States to reorganize the relevant system and for beef to cross the Pacific, the Agriculture Ministry of Korea estimates that Korean consumers can eat American beef in June or July.

The United States also agreed to immediately conduct an epidemiologic research, inform the Korean government of research results and resume relevant negotiations, if a new case of mad cow disease is discovered in the nation. Also, Seoul can halt American beef imports if the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health downgrades the safety rating for American cattle from the current “controlled-risk nation” level.

When the new sanitary conditions come into effect, Seoul will resume its inspection of 5,300 tons of American beef, which was halted in October 2007.