October 31, 2006

US beef makes a quiet return to South Korea

The first batch of US beef since the ban in December 2003 arrived at South Korea's Incheon International Airport Monday (Oct 30).

Nine tonnes of US beef from a slaughterhouse in Kansas has arrived in South Korea, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said.

US beef was banned by South Korea in December 2003 due to mad cow case. The ban was lifted a month ago but South Korea has insisted shipments be limited only to boneless beef from cattle less than 30 months old.

US beef exporters have so far been reluctant to make shipments to South Korea despite the ban being lifted as they feared any discovery of bone fragments in shipments would renew the ban. The US has appealed unsuccessfully for South Korean authorities to ease its tolerance levels of bone fragments, saying they are virtually inevitable in shipments. 

South Korean officials say the shipment would be distributed after it passes the quarantine processes, which would take about two weeks.

South Korea's resumption of US beef imports is one of the four major demands of the US to open talks for a free trade agreement (FTA).