September 24, 2010

South Korea seeks to resume beef exports to US

South Korea is seeking to restart exports of local beef to the US once the country is deemed free of foot-and-mouth disease, officials said Thursday (Sep 23).

South Korea confirmed the first outbreak of the highly contagious disease in eight years in early January, leading to the suspension of the two-year-long talks with the US over exports of local beef.

The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said the disease is considered to be controlled in South Korea as there have been no reported cases since May following efforts to cull and bury affected livestock by animal quarantine authorities.

The government has recently asked the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) to review whether to allow Seoul to regain "foot-and-mouth-free status."

Countries are allowed to apply for the status three months after the last confirmed case of the disease.

"The government expects that the result would come as early as September," a ministry official said.

Foot-and-mouth disease, which can strike all cloven-hoofed animals such as cows, pigs, goats and deer, is classified as a "List A" disease by the OIE. Countries that report the disease are barred from exporting meat from the cloven-hoofed animals.

The US in January had indefinitely delayed its decision over whether to add South Korea to a list of countries considered free of foot-and-mouth disease.

"As soon as South Korea is recognised as a foot-and-mouth-free country, the government plans to push for beef exports to the US and to launch talks with other countries," the official added.