September 27, 2007

South Korea's US beef imports exceeded 13,000 tonnes

US beef imports to South Korea have exceeded over 13-thousand tonnes since the import resumption in April.

South Korea allowed US beef imports in late April after a three-year ban due to mad cow disease in the United States in 2003.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service said that nearly 90 percent of the total imports cleared customs and the rest was undergoing a quarantine inspection process.

Notably, in the past two months, the nation's imports of US beef grew tenfold.

In July, the US beef products came under fire after the discovery of bone particles in a shipment because the government only allows US beef imports that are boneless and from cows under 30 months old.

Currently, 18 major domestic retailers, including GS Mart and Grand Mart, are selling the imported beef products.