The public backlash against the Korean Government over its beef deal with the United States has taken its toll, with a new deal to be announced this week limiting the import of US beef to meat from cattle younger than 30 months.
There have been mass protests in Seoul, South Korea, against the initial agreement to allow beef from cattle of all ages into the market, amid fears that it could spread the human variant of mad cow disease.
Such was the extent of the protests that it threatened to topple the Korean Government.
But this week, as expected, the South Korean government issued a statement noting that while it knows beef 30 months of age and older is safe, it will only import US beef from cattle younger than 30 months.
In the statement, the South Korean government also requested that US beef exporters ask the US government to verify that US beef exported to that market meets this request.
To meet the desires of the Korean customer, three associations representing the US beef industry have written to US Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Schafer, and US Trade Representative Susan Schwab.
The US Meat Export Federation, the American Meat Institute, and the National Meat Association, are arguing in support of the new regime, stating that the "US beef industry recognises that concerns have been expressed in Korea about the safety of US beef from cattle thirty months of age and older, and that these views are having an impact on perceptions of US beef in the Korean market".
"While the US beef industry is confident that all beef produced in the United States is safe regardless of age, at the request of Korean meat importers to address consumer concerns, the US beef industry is prepared to limit exports to Korea to only products from cattle less than thirty months of age under a program verified by USDA as a transitional measure to full market opening consistent with OIE guidelines," the group's letter states.
"To facilitate this commitment, the US beef industry requests that, as soon as the 'Import Health Requirements for US Beef and Beef Products' (signed on April 18, 2008) become effective, the US Government establish an age verification Quality System Assessment Program for Korea that will be in place until the conditions in the Korea market support the restoration of exports of all US beef products to Korea.
"Following publication by the Republic of Korea of the 'Import Health Requirements for U.S. Beef and Beef Products', the US Meat Export Federation will undertake a communication program to respond to questions that have been raised about the safety of US beef and address the concerns that have been expressed in Korea, and we request the support and cooperation of the US Government and the Government of Korea in this effort.
"The US beef industry respects and is responsive to the market place, consumer demand, and the principle of consumer choice.
"We value our relationships with our Korean customers and are committed to meeting their needs and addressing their concerns as US beef returns to the Korean market."
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