May 14, 2008

South Korea to stop beef shipments if US reports new mad cow case

South Korea's president said Tuesday (May 14, 2008) that Washington has accepted his government's plan to stop imports of US beef if any new case of mad cow disease breaks out in the United States.

Lee Myung-bak told a Cabinet meeting that Washington "accepted and acknowledged" his government's latest position on US beef imports, which are set to resume later this month, according to local reports.

This was a reversal from a deal struck last month, when South Korea agreed not to immediately stop imports even if a new case of mad cow disease was discovered in the United States.

Instead, Seoul said it would only halt imports if the World Organization for Animal Health downgraded its safety rating for American cattle.

However, with fears of mad cow disease intensifying among consumers in South Korea, the administration has been under pressure to back down from its earlier deal.

Lee's government now says that South Korea will suspend imports of US beef if it endangers public health, but has rejected calls to re-negotiate, saying American beef is safe to eat.

Lee's government has said if public health were at risk, broader international trade treaties would override the beef deal with Washington, allowing it to cut off imports.

Seoul suspended imports of US beef after the first US case of mad cow disease appeared in December 2003 in a Canadian-born cow in the US.