January 21, 2008

South Korea to expand range of acceptable beef parts from the US

South Korea's agricultural ministry has proposed for the expansion of the range of acceptable beef parts coming from the US, a government source said.

The country might fully reopen its market to US beef imports through a step-by-step process, possibly including shipments of previously unaccepted parts including bones, informed sources said Friday.

South Korea has banned all beef imports from the US after the discovery of mad cow disease in 2003.

Seoul partially lifted the restrictions in January 2006, allowing imports of boneless products, but again suspended imports last year after repeated discoveries of bone fragments in US shipments.

Before last year's ban, Seoul had agreed to allow imports of meat from cattle under 30 months old, but continued its ban on specified risk materials (SRMs).

SRMs include brains, skulls, vertebrae and certain internal organs that run the greatest risk of transmitting mad cow disease to humans.

The ministry was said to be considering the removal of the 30-month age ceiling in the future as a possible follow up measure. However, Korean officials said this is dependent on US implementation of strict safety standards on its cattle feed in compliance to the World Organization for Animal Health guidelines.