July 25, 2007

South Korea seen to allow US bone-in beef this month

An official from the South Korean agriculture ministry said the country is expected to decide whether or not to lift a ban on US bone-in beef this month.

The official said a livestock quarantine consultation committee meeting will be held on July 25 to review information on American beef and make formal recommendations.

Seoul has already inspected US cattle ranches, meat processing plants and feed systems earlier in the month as part of its eight-point import risk analysis regime. It also received data from Washington to base its upcoming negotiations in establishing fresh import guidelines for sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) conditions.

The committee is made up of 18 government and civilian experts, including local livestock growers, university professors and consumer groups. It recommendations are not legally binding, but the committee's views are needed to set government import guidelines, according to the official.

However, demands as lowering the current age for imported beef from cattle 30 months old to 20 months old will probably not be accepted by the government.

Once the government receives the formal recommendations, Seoul and Washington are to hold negotiations on changing the SPS conditions in August. If all goes well, South Korea may start importing bone-in beef such as ribs in September, at the earliest.