Reuters AlertNet Lite - S.Korea suspends quarantine inspection on U.S. beef

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

S.Korea suspends quarantine inspection on U.S. beef

05 Jun 2007 06:45:49 GMT
Source: Reuters

SEOUL, June 5 (Reuters) - South Korea has temporarily suspended quarantine inspections of imported U.S. beef after some meat for U.S. domestic consumption was wrongly shipped to the Asian country, an agriculture official said on Tuesday.

The move effectively prevents U.S. beef from reaching South Korean consumers and is the latest in a series of interruptions to supply since U.S. beef imports resumed in April when South Korea lifted a 3-year-old ban on the meat imposed due to a U.S. outbreak of mad cow disease in 2003.

Seoul asked Washington to trace if any other beef for U.S. domestic consumption had been exported to South Korea since mid-April.

"The suspension is temporary. We will stop issuing quarantine certificates to U.S. beef importers until the U.S. sends the results of investigation to us," said the official who asked not to be named.

South Korea, once the third-largest importer of U.S. beef, said on Monday it banned beef from two plants owned by Cargill Inc. [CARG.UL] and two owned by Tyson Foods Inc <TSN.N>

Cargill sent 15.2 tonnes of beef containing two boxes filled with short bones, while Tyson shipped 51.2 tonnes of meat that should have been sold in the United States only.

Seoul has sent back all 66.4 tonnes of beef to the United States.

At present, Seoul allows imports of boneless U.S. beef from cattle less than 30 months old, while the U.S. has no restriction on age and meat cuts for domestic consumption.

Cargill and Tyson said overnight they produced beef for domestic consumption and it apparently was exported by customers, not by themselves.

Some 227 tonnes of U.S. beef have been released onto the South Korean market since April when the country accepted the first shipment of boneless meat since December 2003, according to the ministry.

The country has been expected to be ready by September to resume imports of U.S. beef with bones, while Washington has called on Seoul to ease import restrictions to ease the passage of a bilateral trade deal.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• Korea (South) profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• InterAction Statement on President's Renewed AIDS Plan
InterAction - USA

• American Red Cross Promotes Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis Along U.S. - Mexican Border
American Red Cross - USA

• Leader of AJWS Grantee Wins Prestigious Human Rights Award
AJWS - USA

• Catholic Relief Services commends President's call to double PEPFAR funding
CRS - USA

• World Vision U.S. Welcomes President's Global AIDS Funding Proposal
WV - USA

MORE >>

Latest news

• US arrests 10 it says plotted to oust Lao govt

• PRESS DIGEST - New York Times front page - June 5

• Kabul to trade Taliban commander's body for hostages

• U.S. discontent over Iraq, Democrats rising - poll

• Climbers to recreate Mallory's Everest attempt

MORE >>

Last updated:Tue Jun 5 06:47:38 2007