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(LEAD) S. Korea to delay posting of new U.S. beef import pact on gov't gazette
SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will delay posting the new U.S. beef import rules on the government gazette in the face of mounting public opposition, the agriculture ministry said Monday.
It said the move effectively delays implementation of the revised sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards signed by Seoul and Washington on April 18, and could signal the start of negotiations to reflect concerns about beef safety that have caused demonstrators to take to the streets since early last month. Recent demonstrations have turned violent as some protestors called for ousting President Lee Myung-bak, and police have started to crack down on marches.
"The request for postponement of the SPS has been sent to the Ministry of Public Administration and Security that is responsible for the printing of the gazette," said a press release.
It added that the decision follows an official request from the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) earlier in the day. The GNP leadership strongly urged the government to take steps to restore public confidence that can include renegotiation of the beef import agreement.
After delaying the posting of the SPS twice, Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-chun announced last Thursday that the new rules will come into effect in this month.
Under the revised SPS standards, most U.S. beef cuts can be imported, with the exception of specified risk materials (SRMs), which pose the greatest risk of transmitting mad cow disease to humans. The two sides also agreed not to impose any age limits on butchered animals.
The new pact is to replace an earlier pact signed in January 2006 that only permitted the import of boneless beef from cattle under 30 months old.
South Korea fully opened its beef market to U.S. beef in 2001 as a result of the Uruguay Round agricultural agreement. But a ban was imposed in December 2003 after the U.S. confirmed a case of mad cow disease. It started to import beef again in April 2007 before halting quarantine inspections six months later.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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