May 3, 2007

US beef already on sale in South Korea

South Korean beef consumers can now purchase US beef after authorities has cleared the product after finding no bone chips in its shipments.

The batches came from Creekstone Farms Premium Beef in Arkansas City and Iowa Pacific Processors.

Creekstone passed the residue tests last year, making its product immediately available while Iowa Pacific beef came from Swift plant in Dumas, Texas which is currently subject to the series of chemical tests.

US beef bound to South Korea is required to undergo extensive chemical and dioxin testing for 18 days before hitting market shelves, according to the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA).

NCBA Chief Economist Gregg Doud more work is to be done to rebuild the trading relationship between South Korea and US.

Doud said US can generate US$815 million per year on its beef sales in South Korea. He said NCBA will support the pending free trade agreement between the US and South Korea only if commercially viable beef trade exists between the two countries.

Furthermore, protein exporter Tyson Foods will also continue its beef exports to South Korea "within the next few weeks," according to company spokesman Gary Mickelson.