Korea and Canada set to resume beef import talks

The Korean government is set to hold bilateral talks with Canada next month on whether to resume the import of Canadian beef.

According to the agriculture ministry the government has accepted Canada's proposal to discuss the issue. Canadian beef imports were banned back in May 2003 after the discovery of a case of mad cow disease in the nation.

However, the North American country has been demanding that Korea reopen its market to beef exporters after receiving a controlled risk status in 2007 from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

Ministry officials say they plan to carry out livestock related conferences to gather public opinion ahead of the negotiation slated to start July 13 for two days in Seoul.

Before the ban went into effect, Canada was the fourth-largest supplier of beef to South Korea after the United States, Australia and New Zealand. It had shipped 16,400 tonnes of beef to South Korea worth US$37.4 million.