August 24, 2007
 
South Korea to resume checks of US beef imports
 

South Korea's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said Friday (August 24) it will continue quarantine inspections of US beef imports which were suspended earlier this month after it has found to contain banned parts.

The ministry said in a statement it made the decision following US inspections of four meat-processing facilities from where shipments containing the banned substances were sent to South Korea.

South Korea closed its doors to American beef in December 2003 after mad cow disease - or bovine spongiform encephalopathy - was found in cattle in the US.

It partially reopened its market last year but agreed to accept only boneless meat from cattle under 30 months old, thought to be less at risk of carrying the illness.

South Korean consumers had not been able to buy the meat at regular supermarkets until last month despite resumption of US beef was relaxed, as a number of shipments had been held in quarantine after banned bone fragments were discovered.