South Korea likely to re-enter US meat market soon

Washington has recognised South Korea as free of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), bringing the country closer to exporting its pork and beef to the US.

South Korea's Gyeonggi Province reported a suspected FMD outbreak in 2000, prompting the US to ban imports of pork and beef products from the country.

Seoul has demanded Washington recognise South Korea as a country free of FMD since May 2007. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the USDA declared South Korea free of FMD and cattle plague in a recent press release, the foreign ministry said.

In order to export pork and beef to the US, South Korea still has to pass an evaluation in which its system to inspect livestock sanitation must be proven equal to that of the US, the ministry said.

A ministry official said they will soon apply for the evaluation for pork and beef exports.