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S. Korea will not discriminate between Canadian, U.S. beef: official
By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, Nov. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea does not plan to discriminate between Canadian and U.S. beef in ongoing import talks, a government negotiator said Thursday.
In the first day of talks aimed at establishing new import sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) conditions, negotiators from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry made clear Seoul will be even-handed in beef import issues.
"We stressed that when it comes to beef imports, there will be no difference in the way South Korea deals with Canada and the United States," said Kim Chang-seob, the ministry's chief veterinary officer.
He added that Seoul wanted the talks that run through Friday to help resolve all outstanding issues.
In response, Gary Little, chief negotiator for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said the talks will give his government a better understanding of what South Korea wants in terms of beef import conditions and safety.
South Korea banned Canadian beef in May 2003 after the confirmation of a case of mad cow disease in the North American country. Canada was previously the fourth-biggest exporter of beef to South Korea after the United States, Australia and New Zealand. In 2002, it exported 16,400 tons worth US$37.4 million.
In June, Ottawa formally requested a resumption of talks through the CFIA. Seoul has since conducted an import risk analysis evaluation, which is a right of World Trade Organization members. Of the eight-tiered risk analysis process, the country is currently at the fourth level after having completed on-site inspections of Canada's animal sanitary, quarantine and feed systems.
The ministry meanwhile said Canada has requested a lifting of all import restrictions commensurate with the global animal health body's designation made in late May.
The country received a "controlled risk" classification that technically allows it to export all beef parts with the exception of certain specified risk materials (SRMs).
Exports of SRMs like tonsils and certain small intestine parts are banned, but there are no restrictions on brains, head bones, and vertebra if the butchered animal is under 30 months old.
Seoul has said it will respect internationally accepted guidelines, but that it intends to push for the retention of SRM import limits while easing rules on importing ribs and other bone parts.
The Agriculture Ministry held similar talks with United States in mid October, but made no headway.
Washington has been insisting on the lifting of all restrictions, while Seoul said it wants to hold onto the 30-month age limit and the ban on certain SRMs.
South Korea and the United States reached a revised SPS pact in January 2006 and customs inspections resumed in late April of this year. All U.S. beef imports, however, have been halted since last month after the discovery of backbones in one shipment.
Officials said there will be no further American beef imports until a new SPS deal is signed.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
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