South Korea lifts ban on Canadian beef imports

The South Korean Government has given clearance to the resumption of beef imports from Canada, paving the way towards the end of an eight-year ban imposed following an outbreak of BSE.

Last week, the government ratified import health requirements (IHR) for Canadian beef under 30 months of age, which marks one of the final steps towards the end of the ban.

Canada’s Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said that the latest announcement is a big step forward for the country’s beef producers who can bring their world-class products to the South Korean market once again.

South Korea banned Canadian beef after Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease, was identified in a cow imported from Alberta province in May 2003.

At the same time, South Korea also issued a ban on US beef after a BSE case, following which both the North American countries argued that the ban was imposed without any scientific reason and therefore should be lifted.

Although South Korea lifted its ban on US imports in July 2008, it retained the ban on Canadian beef imports, making it the last Asian country to continue with the imposition of a ban on Canadian beef.

In response, the Canadian Government filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in an effort to have the ban lifted.

The WTO ruling was expected in July 2011; however, Canada suspended the case after both the countries moved closer to a resolution.

According to Canadian media reports, the South Korean Government has to promulgate IHR, formally accept the import health certificates issued by Canada and release a list of those Canadian beef establishments that have been approved for export, and these steps are expected to come into effect by early 2012.

Before the ban was implemented in 2003, Korea was the fourth-largest beef market for Canada and producers estimate this market will be worth $30m by 2015.

In 2011, Australia was the largest exporter of beef to South Korea, holding a 49% market share, followed by the US (38%), Mexico (11%) and New Zealand (2%).

Caption: South Korea banned Canadian beef after mad cow disease was identified in a cow imported from Alberta province in May 2003. (Image courtesy of Michael C Berch.)