March 30, 2009

South Korea should be cautious about reopening its market to Canadian beef due to a high rate of reported mad cow disease cases in Canada, according to experts from the livestock quarantine consultation committee.

The committee, made up of representatives of local meat producers, consumer groups and academics, called on the government to request for stricter terms in future beef talks with Canada, said the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Committee members took part in on-site inspections late last year to determine what measures were taken by Canada to control the mad cow disease.

The committee also said the government should ask for tougher guarantees on the type of beef that can be imported.

Canada said it has a strict feed control system to prevent protein-based feed from reaching cattle, though a total of 15 mad cow cases have been reported since 2003, when South Korea suspended imports of Canadian beef.

South Korea reopened its market to US beef last year and allows most cuts to be traded if they are from animals under 30 months old, while some limits were also placed on the import of specified risk materials.

Canada has asked for a similar level of access, but talks of the beef trade have not made much progress since last year.