July 5, 2006

South Korea to delay lifting ban on US beef import

South Korea said it would delay lifting its ban on US beef as American processors have not taken sufficient measures to ensure product safety from mad cow disease, an agricultural official said Tuesday (Jul 4).

The official said health experts in South Korea are uncertain that proposed changes to meat processing facilities are adequate.

South Korea's refusal to accept the changes means the re-entry of American beef into the South Korean market would not begin until after July. 

The American proposal requires meat processors to clean tools used to cut cattle older than 30 months old and those below this age, in effect meaning the same tools would still be used to process young and old cattle.

South Korean officials felt it was not a solution to the possible contamination that may occur.

South Korea has maintained a ban on US beef since late 2003 after a mad cow case was confirmed there. It had initially wanted to lift the ban early in January after conducting on-site inspections. However, the inspections produced problems South Korea wants resolved before allowing US beef back into the country.

South Korea initially found fault in facilities that process foreign cows along with those raised in the US.

While most of the 37 facilities examined had two or more butchering lines and tools, a few had only one to process animals aged 30 months or younger.

Processing of foreign animals in US plants is an issue since South Korea currently only allows beef from Australia, New Zealand and Mexico, whereas US imports Canadian cattle to be slaughtered in the country.