South Korea | Korean Legislature Passes Beef Traceability System Bill | On No...
South Korea
Korean Legislature Passes Beef Traceability System Bill
On Nov. 22 the South Korean legislature passed a "beef traceability system bill," providing legal basis for the full implementation of a beef traceability system in Korea starting in the second half of 2008.
The law will require Korean cattle owners to notify the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) when cattle are born or die and when they are imported, exported, sold, or purchased. MAF will provide cattle owners with an identification number for each animal, and these must correspond with the number on the animal’s ear tag. Korean packing plants will be required to include the identification number on product labels so consumers can check the cattle records for products on sale in retail stores.
The Korean government started a trial beef traceability system project in October 2004, and currently one province (Kyunggi), 25 cities and counties, and 22 brands are participating in the program. At the end of October, approximately 680,000 head of cattle, or more than one third of the total cattle population of Korea, were registered in the system.
USMEF indicates Korea hopes to increase the competitiveness of its domestic beef industry by responding to the preferences of Korean consumers for more information about the sources and background of their food. This new mandatory animal identification system also will allow Korea to respond quickly and effectively to animal disease outbreaks and prevent false labeling. With the introduction of these new requirements, traceability could become a prerequisite for supplying beef to Korean consumers.
South Korea
Korean Legislature Passes Beef Traceability System Bill
On Nov. 22 the South Korean legislature passed a "beef traceability system bill," providing legal basis for the full implementation of a beef traceability system in Korea starting in the second half of 2008.
The law will require Korean cattle owners to notify the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) when cattle are born or die and when they are imported, exported, sold, or purchased. MAF will provide cattle owners with an identification number for each animal, and these must correspond with the number on the animal’s ear tag. Korean packing plants will be required to include the identification number on product labels so consumers can check the cattle records for products on sale in retail stores.
The Korean government started a trial beef traceability system project in October 2004, and currently one province (Kyunggi), 25 cities and counties, and 22 brands are participating in the program. At the end of October, approximately 680,000 head of cattle, or more than one third of the total cattle population of Korea, were registered in the system.
USMEF indicates Korea hopes to increase the competitiveness of its domestic beef industry by responding to the preferences of Korean consumers for more information about the sources and background of their food. This new mandatory animal identification system also will allow Korea to respond quickly and effectively to animal disease outbreaks and prevent false labeling. With the introduction of these new requirements, traceability could become a prerequisite for supplying beef to Korean consumers.