September 20, 2006

South Korea, US to discuss beef shipment bone fragment tolerance
 

US and South Korean officials are hoping to reach an agreement on bone fragment tolerance levels in US beef shipments this week, US government and industry officials said Monday (Sep 18).

South Korea eased its ban on US beef earlier this month, but US producers are concerned that South Korea may once again impose the ban over any small bone fragments found in shipments, which they say is inevitable.

South Korea has agreed only to import "boneless" cuts of beef and government officials may decide to take the words too literally, an agricultural official said.

USDA Secretary Mike Johanns previously said an agreed-upon bone fragment tolerance level would be necessary for US beef exporters, adding that tolerance levels are necessary in shipping any product.

The US industry hopes to avoid a repeat of the case in Hong Kong where a single bone chip found caused the entire shipment to be returned and the US plant responsible banned from exporting to the territory. 

Hong Kong, like South Korea, agreed to only by boneless cuts of US beef.