South Korea | First U.S. Beef In 40 Months Enters Distribution Channels | A ...
South Korea
First U.S. Beef In 40 Months Enters Distribution Channels
A U.S. beef shipment received official inspection clearance Thursday (April 26) afternoon Seoul time to enter South Korean distribution channels after five working days of inspection and checks by South Korea's National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service (NVRQS).
It is understood each of the 449 boxes in the 6.4 metric ton shipment were subject to X-ray inspection at Incheon International Airport, where the shipment arrived Monday (April 23) morning. USMEF further understands residue tests were not conducted on the product because it is second shipment from the U.S. plant inspected under the post-BSE Korean inspection protocol that requires laboratory testing on the first shipment from each approved U.S. plant, unless a violation occurs.
NVRQS also operates an Automated Import Information System (AIIS) that randomly selects shipments of imported meat products for laboratory inspection, but the shipment cleared Thursday was not selected by AIIS, according to an NVRQS news release. Officials also stated that no bone chips were found in the inspected product.
The shipment is likely to be used by the importer as samples for distribution to Korean barbecue restaurants.
"We are pleased to see U.S. beef return to the Korean market," said Phil Seng, USMEF president and CEO. “This is another step toward normalization of beef trade with this important market.”
In a USMEF survey of approximately 1,000 Korean restaurant operators conducted in February more than 65 percent said they would purchase and serve U.S. beef if it was available.
"We are anxious to resume the volume of beef shipments required to fulfill the built-up demand by the many restaurants and retail outlets awaiting U.S. beef," said Seng.
Korean media reported this week that the resumption of U.S. beef imports created a fall in wholesale domestic and imported beef prices in the market. However, USMEF expects the volume of shipments in the near term to remain modest due to continued risks of shipping and continued uncertainties in the inspection protocol.
According to USMEF Korean Director Jihae Yang, "A higher volume of shipments will only come when the inspection protocol and rules of import are clear.”
U.S. beef exporters also are awaiting the completion by Korea of its pledge to bring its import regulations in line with OIE guidelines, which will allow import of all U.S. beef products.
South Korea
First U.S. Beef In 40 Months Enters Distribution Channels
A U.S. beef shipment received official inspection clearance Thursday (April 26) afternoon Seoul time to enter South Korean distribution channels after five working days of inspection and checks by South Korea's National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service (NVRQS).
It is understood each of the 449 boxes in the 6.4 metric ton shipment were subject to X-ray inspection at Incheon International Airport, where the shipment arrived Monday (April 23) morning. USMEF further understands residue tests were not conducted on the product because it is second shipment from the U.S. plant inspected under the post-BSE Korean inspection protocol that requires laboratory testing on the first shipment from each approved U.S. plant, unless a violation occurs.
NVRQS also operates an Automated Import Information System (AIIS) that randomly selects shipments of imported meat products for laboratory inspection, but the shipment cleared Thursday was not selected by AIIS, according to an NVRQS news release. Officials also stated that no bone chips were found in the inspected product.
The shipment is likely to be used by the importer as samples for distribution to Korean barbecue restaurants.
"We are pleased to see U.S. beef return to the Korean market," said Phil Seng, USMEF president and CEO. “This is another step toward normalization of beef trade with this important market.”
In a USMEF survey of approximately 1,000 Korean restaurant operators conducted in February more than 65 percent said they would purchase and serve U.S. beef if it was available.
"We are anxious to resume the volume of beef shipments required to fulfill the built-up demand by the many restaurants and retail outlets awaiting U.S. beef," said Seng.
Korean media reported this week that the resumption of U.S. beef imports created a fall in wholesale domestic and imported beef prices in the market. However, USMEF expects the volume of shipments in the near term to remain modest due to continued risks of shipping and continued uncertainties in the inspection protocol.
According to USMEF Korean Director Jihae Yang, "A higher volume of shipments will only come when the inspection protocol and rules of import are clear.”
U.S. beef exporters also are awaiting the completion by Korea of its pledge to bring its import regulations in line with OIE guidelines, which will allow import of all U.S. beef products.