July 21, 2009

South Korea will seek controlled-risk status regarding mad cow disease, and will be submitting the status application to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) as early as next month, according to the Agriculture Ministry.

The OIE has so far granted 32 countries, including the US, Canada, Britain and Japan, a controlled-risk status. South Korea is currently classified with an undetermined risk status.

The OIE is expected to issue a final ruling in May 2010. The ministry is confident of clinching the status, as South Korea has exceeded the necessary requirements.

A controlled-risk country is allowed to export all beef from cattle under 30 months old that do not contain specified risk materials. Countries with a lower risk are given a negligible rating, the highest safety level in that category. As of May this year, 11 countries, including Australia, Norway, Singapore and Sweden are classified as negligible risk carriers.

South Korea believes the OIE classification will help improve the credibility of domestic beef, reassuring local consumers of the safety of Korean beef.