September 22, 2009

The first Korean pork exported to Japan in nine years will leave port on Monday (Sep 21), according to the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

 

The country banned Korean imports in 2000 due to outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and hog cholera. The resumption of trade is expected to help local farmers increase the production and sales.

 

The sale to Japan of pork from Jeju Island off Korea's southern coast will resume September 28, while two other local food companies that were officially granted the right to export to Japan will start next month.

 

A ministry official said the decision to allow pork shipments was effectively reached in August at a bilateral quarantine and sanitation meeting.

 

The official said the resumption of exports will help the local hog industry and stabilize many farmers suffering from cheap imports affected by the Korea-EU free trade agreements.

 

Total pork exports were US$339.8 million a decade ago, but tumbled to US$22.2 million after the Japanese ban was imposed in 2002. Last year total volume dropped again, to US$10.4 million.

 

Now the government is hoping to help pork exports recover to US$500 million by 2014. Part of the plan involves declaring more "hog cholera-free regions" and funding more research and development to come up with ways to export pork strategically.