Korea unmoved by OIE's risk status report for BSE
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S. Korea unmoved by OIE's risk status report for BSE
By John Gregerson on 3/1/2007 for Meatingplace.com
Although a panel for the World Organization for Animal Health is recommending the United States and Canada be designated as "controlled risk" regions for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, a classification that ostensibly would boost efforts by both countries to normalize beef trade, don't look for South Korea to loosen restrictions on imports of U.S. beef.
In a news conference Wednesday, Vice Agriculture Minister Park Has-sang indicated that regardless of OIE recommendations, South Korea has no plans to re-open its markets to bone-in beef product.
"The crux of the standoff lies with health risks from bone fragments from the head and spinal cord being mistakenly shipped with the meat," Park said.
South Korea already has established a special task force to evaluate the fallout from the OIE announcement, made Wednesday. "The team is closely watching the latest developments and examining in detail how Seoul can scientifically respond to demands from Washington for broader market liberalization," Park said.
He also said he believes that the United States was classified as a "controlled risk" region rather than a "negligible risk" one because it has logged three cases of BSE thus far.
OIE's 167 member countries will vote to approve or disapprove of the classifications proposed for the United States and Canada at the organization's annual general session in May.
Meantime, look for Korea's position to cast a long shadow over upcoming negotiations between the United States and Korea to reach a free-trade agreement. Next set of talks are next week.
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S. Korea unmoved by OIE's risk status report for BSE
By John Gregerson on 3/1/2007 for Meatingplace.com
Although a panel for the World Organization for Animal Health is recommending the United States and Canada be designated as "controlled risk" regions for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, a classification that ostensibly would boost efforts by both countries to normalize beef trade, don't look for South Korea to loosen restrictions on imports of U.S. beef.
In a news conference Wednesday, Vice Agriculture Minister Park Has-sang indicated that regardless of OIE recommendations, South Korea has no plans to re-open its markets to bone-in beef product.
"The crux of the standoff lies with health risks from bone fragments from the head and spinal cord being mistakenly shipped with the meat," Park said.
South Korea already has established a special task force to evaluate the fallout from the OIE announcement, made Wednesday. "The team is closely watching the latest developments and examining in detail how Seoul can scientifically respond to demands from Washington for broader market liberalization," Park said.
He also said he believes that the United States was classified as a "controlled risk" region rather than a "negligible risk" one because it has logged three cases of BSE thus far.
OIE's 167 member countries will vote to approve or disapprove of the classifications proposed for the United States and Canada at the organization's annual general session in May.
Meantime, look for Korea's position to cast a long shadow over upcoming negotiations between the United States and Korea to reach a free-trade agreement. Next set of talks are next week.