June 23, 2008

Washington and Seoul on last week have come to a new beef trade agreement that certifies only beef from cattle less than 30 months old would be exported to South Korea.
 

The agreement also allows South Korea to inspect any US slaughterhouses connected to outbreaks of mad cow disease. The fear of a possible mad cow disease outbreak was the main reason behind the furore caused when South Koreans learnt of the initial US beef deal that was signed on April 18.

The two countries would introduce an age-verification system for US beef products to ease South Korean concerns over mad cow disease. South Korea would reserve the right to send back any US beef shipments that do not have a "Quality System Assessment (QSA) for Korea" mark.

Under this new agreement, the US confirmed on Saturday (June 21, 2008) that US beef exporters are set to resume shipments to South Korea.

Both the US and South Korea are keeping their fingers crossed that this new agreement would alleviate public distrust and concern over the safety of US beef imports.

Before an outbreak of mad cow disease in the US in 2003, South Korea was the third-largest importer of US beef.