Korea to gain controlled-risk status on BSE

South Korea is likely to be categorised by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) as a controlled-risk country for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MFAFF) said Sunday (March 14).

A livestock technical committee at the OIE said last week that the country could see its classification upgraded after meeting livestock control and testing standards, ministry officials said.

The committee decision will be open to be reviewed by OIE member countries for 60 days, before earning the final confirmation from the body in May if no objections are raised. With the controlled-risk status, Korea will be able to export beef with few restrictions.

MFAFF said Korea is likely to be granted the green light on cattle control this time around.

Even though the designation does not lead to an immediate rise in beef exports, it will still make the global community realise that the country is monitoring its livestock in a safe way, the official said.

OIE classifies cattle population of a country into three categories: negligible BSE risk, controlled BSE risk or undetermined BSE risk.

South Korea is currently rated as an undetermined BSE risk, because although it has had no reported cases of the disease, it did not carry out the required number of tests on livestock.

The OIE, a United Nations organisation, formulates a country risk assessment for mad cow disease. It has so far granted 32 countries, including the US, Canada, Britain and Japan, such status.