South Korea to resume U.S. beef imports as scheduled

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)--South Korea plans to resume U.S. beef imports on a limited basis as scheduled, an official said Jan. 22, despite Japan's suspension of such imports due to renewed fears of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Japan said Jan. 20 it is halting all U.S. beef imports--after lifting a two-year ban just last month--after bone-in veal was found to include spinal material, considered by Japan to be a BSE risk.

Japan's agreement with the United States allows some bone-in cuts of meat to be imported, but South Korea's deal bans bones altogether, eliminating the chance of a similar error, said Park Hyun-chool, a senior official at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

South Korea plans to resume U.S. beef imports by the end of March after reaching an agreement with the U.S. earlier this month to relax a two-year ban triggered by BSE fears.

Imports to South Korea will be limited to boneless meat from cattle under 30 months old. Seoul is concerned that some material inside bones, including marrow, could be dangerous.

South Korea was the third-largest foreign market for American beef, after Japan and Mexico, when it shut its doors to the U.S. meat in December 2003, after the first reported U.S. case of BSE.

Date:1/26/06