Seoul to enforce private sector ban on US beef from older cattle
2008/06/08
Seoul to enforce private sector ban on U.S. beef from older cattle
By Yoo Cheong-mo
SEOUL, June 8 (Yonhap) — The South Korean government will return or destroy all U.S. beef from cattle older than 30 months in the process of its import quarantine if private sectors in both South Korea and the U.S. voluntarily reach an agreement to impose an age limit in their beef trade, a government source here said Sunday.
The Seoul government’s possible ban on U.S. beef from older cattle would run directly counter to its U.S. beef import deal signed with Washington in mid-April, even if private traders of both countries voluntarily agree to prevent the shipment of U.S. beef from cattle more than 30 months old to South Korea, said the source.
Nevertheless, the South Korean government is willing to consider destroying or returning all U.S. beef from older cattle, in consideration of the general public’s view that cattle aged over 30 months are the root cause of the deadly mad cow disease, said the source.
"The government’s intention to comply with a voluntary agreement by private sector beef traders would actually be equivalent to a renegotiation of the April beef import deal between the two countries," he explained.
President Lee Myung-bak and U.S. President George W. Bush agreed during their talks over the phone Saturday to cooperate to ensure that U.S. beef from cattle older than 30 months is not exported to South Korea, as tens of thousands of opponents of the beef import deal have held daily rallies nationwide for over a month.
Lee’s office Cheong Wa Dae said U.S. beef from older cattle, considered to pose a greater risk of transmitting mad cow disease, won’t be brought into South Korea if Washington takes relevant and concrete measures in accordance with Bush’s promise, helping to defuse Korean consumers’ fear of mad cow disease.
"This is an emergency situation. The U.S. government is not expected to take issue with our planned ban on U.S. beef from older cattle in accordance with a private sector voluntary agreement," said the government official, asking to remain anonymous.
"The South Korean government will also take the risk of being sued by non-participants in the voluntary private sector agreement. Non-participants might sue the government if their shipments of U.S. beef from older cattle are disapproved. But we’re ready to take the risk," said the official.
