July 13, 2009
Korean pork exports to Japan resume after nine years
Korean food companies will resume pork exports to Japan after being shut out of the market for nine years, the government said on Saturday (July 11).
Hanil Farm Co. and Dongbang Co. have officially received permission to ship heat-processed pork products to Japan, the Agriculture Ministry said.
Tokyo halted all Korean pork imports in the wake of Seoul's confirmation that animals were infected by foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and swine fever in 2000. Both diseases are highly contagious to livestock and can result in import bans.
The ministry said pork products made by the companies can be shipped to Japan after Thursday (July 9).
