South Korea says no to reopening border, but accepts key U.S. assertions
by Pete Hisey on 4/25/2005 for Meatingplace.com
Negotiators from the United States and South Korea met for three days last week, and the Koreans agreed that the U.S. plan to defend against bovine spongiform encephalopathy through targeted surveillance and testing of the highest-risk animals meets international standards for safety.
South Korea could not be convinced, however, that the animal feed safety issue had been addressed adequately to resume beef trade, because there was no assurance that feed meant for poultry and swine and containing bovine protein could not be fed to cattle.
South Korea will send a delegation of both technical experts and consumer group representatives to the U.S. in early June, where they will meet with American trade negotiators and inspect farms, feed mills, slaughter houses and food processors. If the U.S. facilities are given passing grades, imports could resume quickly, but officials said there was no way of setting a date.
by Pete Hisey on 4/25/2005 for Meatingplace.com
Negotiators from the United States and South Korea met for three days last week, and the Koreans agreed that the U.S. plan to defend against bovine spongiform encephalopathy through targeted surveillance and testing of the highest-risk animals meets international standards for safety.
South Korea could not be convinced, however, that the animal feed safety issue had been addressed adequately to resume beef trade, because there was no assurance that feed meant for poultry and swine and containing bovine protein could not be fed to cattle.
South Korea will send a delegation of both technical experts and consumer group representatives to the U.S. in early June, where they will meet with American trade negotiators and inspect farms, feed mills, slaughter houses and food processors. If the U.S. facilities are given passing grades, imports could resume quickly, but officials said there was no way of setting a date.
