June 30, 2005

South Korea unlikely to lift US beef import ban
 

The discovery of a new BSE case in US has hardened South Korea's public opinion against lifting the ban on US beef imports, officials said.

The import of US beef has been banned since late 2003, when a cow in Washington state was found to have contracted the brain-wasting disease.

Seoul has now decided to postpone a meeting previously planned with the US to negotiate a lifting of the ban.

Korean cattle growers also said they plan to stage a strong campaign against the resumption of US beef imports if the government eliminates the ban without taking precautions.