August 31, 2007

South Korea government to decide on full US beef entry

A South Korean panel will meet this week to discuss whether to fully open the country's market to US beef after it has lifted its latest ban on American meat.

US lawmakers said it would be difficult to give its nod for a sweeping bilateral free trade deal struck in April if South Korea does not allow more US beef into the country.

South Korea currently accepts only boneless beef from US cattle less than 30 months of age due to mad cow disease scare.

South Korea, once the third-largest importer of US beef, halted quarantine inspections for American beef earlier this month after finding a prohibited spinal column in a shipment. The country resumed inspecting imports on Monday (August 27).

The panel which includes 18 members composed of veterinarians, professors, government officials and members of the general public will discuss the safety of US beef and make recommendations, a government agriculture official said on Thursday (August 29).

The panel said in July that it needed more time to make a decision and questioned the United States if it can completely follow guidelines in exporting beef.

Washington has asked Seoul to fully open its market to US beef after the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in May gave the United States a "controlled risk" status for beef safety.

Beef with ribs, used in a popular Korean dish, had made up a hefty portion of the 199,000 tonnes of US meat imported into South Korea in 2003.