April 27, 2012

 

South Korea to pursue US beef imports despite mad cow fear

 

 

Despite the reported case of mad cow disease in California, South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday (Apr 26) defended its decision not to immediately halt American beef imports, local media reported.

 

Following the latest outbreak of the fatal neurodegenerative disease in the US, South Korea has decided not to immediately suspend quarantine inspections, which could effectively halt all US beef imports.

 

The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has said it will step up quarantine checks and continue monitoring situation in the US, stopping short of imposing an import ban.

 

The decision has copped criticism that the government is not delivering on its promise that it will suspend imports in case an outbreak of mad cow disease puts public health at risk here.

 

The pledge was made in 2008 by key government officials, including then trade minister Kim Jong-hoon, when South Korea's decision to resume US beef imports sparked fears of mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

 

Public fears triggered months of street rallies that spawned the strong anti-government sentiment here and threatened to delegitimize the Lee Myung-bak administration that had just taken power. The so-called beef protests remain a highly divisive political issue to date.

 

A senior Cheong Wa Dae official told reporters Thursday the government has yet to halt imports because the latest outbreak, the first in six years, does not seem to pose health risks, according to broadcaster SBS. The official, who remained anonymous, expressed concerns some local reports are misleading the public. The liberal opposition seems unconvinced.

 

"The government is refusing to take even the minimal steps, such as halting quarantine inspections," the main opposition Democratic United Party said Thursday in a statement.

 

"There is nothing more important than healthy and safety of South Koreans, but the government's attitude suggests otherwise," the centre-left party said, demanding the government to immediately suspend all American beef imports.

 

Three lawmakers of the left-leaning Unified Progressive Party held a press conference earlier in the day, accusing the government of "deceiving" the public by reneging on its previous pledge.

 

"The government should renegotiate the related accord with the US and regain sovereignty of quarantine and inspection," the lawmakers said in a statement.

 

President Lee's ruling Saenuriy Party also called on the government to look closely into the matter and consider the possibility of suspending US beef imports.

 

While US authorities said the new case of mad cow disease poses "no risk to the food supply or to human health," two major local retailers here temporarily suspended sales of American beef, citing consumer fears.

 

South Korea currently imports beef from cattle less than 30 months old with all specified risk materials (SRMs), known to transmit mad cow disease, removed.