March 14, 2006

South Korea may ban US beef again if mad cow case confirmed

South Korea may again ban imports of US beef if tests confirm a suspected mad cow case in the United States reported over the weekend.

The South Korean Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said it is keeping close tabs on the latest mad cow report and will take appropriate actions depending on the results of a more detailed test according to spokesman Lee Yang-ho.

The US Department of Agriculture had said last Saturday that the cow showed signs of the mad cow disease.

Lee stated that if the second test comes out positive, South Korea and the US may have to scrap an earlier agreement reached between the two sides on reopening the local market to US beef in early 2006.

South Korea banned US beef imports in late 2003 because of a confirmed mad cow case in the US.