December 31, 2003

South Korea Rejects Request To Lift US Beef Ban

South Korea confirmed yesterday that it was not prepared to lift a ban on U.S. beef imports. Instead Korea requested stricter safety measures from the United States, the country's agriculture minister said.

In a report to President Roh Moo-hyun at a Cabinet meeting, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Huh Sang-man said that the government will call upon the United States to take the same or stricter measures it will do for Japan to ensure the safety of U.S. beef products.

"The ministry will give top priority to food safety for the people," Huh was quoted as saying by Cho Young-dong, the government's spokesman. The government also decided to extend the ban to processed U.S. beef products.

The decision came at a time when a U.S. delegation, led by David Hegwood, special adviser to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, met Korean government officials to persuade them to lift the ban.