South Korea | U.S. Beef Quarantine Inspections Suspended Until New Protocol ...

South Korea

U.S. Beef Quarantine Inspections Suspended Until New Protocol In Place

The South Korea Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) announced today (Oct. 5) it has suspended quarantine inspection of all U.S. beef due to the detection of vertebral column, a prohibited material under the trade agreement, found in a U.S. beef shipment.

This position will be maintained until a new protocol between the United States and Korea is finalized and goes into effect, MAF said in a release. No dates have been scheduled for those negotiations to begin, but U.S. officials are trying to get them underway as soon as possible, according to USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing & Regulatory Programs Chuck Lambert, who spoke during an industry call this afternoon.

FSIS responded this morning by advising its inspectors to immediately stop issuing export certificates for any beef products destined to Korea. These changes were added to the Export Requirements for South Korea in the FSIS Export Library. Therefore, any product waiting for an export certificate will not be certified by FSIS. USMEF is seeking clarification on how product already outside the United States enroute to Korea will be handled.

USMEF will provide updates as more information becomes available.

South Korea

U.S. Beef Quarantine Inspections Suspended Until New Protocol In Place

The South Korea Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) announced today (Oct. 5) it has suspended quarantine inspection of all U.S. beef due to the detection of vertebral column, a prohibited material under the trade agreement, found in a U.S. beef shipment.

This position will be maintained until a new protocol between the United States and Korea is finalized and goes into effect, MAF said in a release. No dates have been scheduled for those negotiations to begin, but U.S. officials are trying to get them underway as soon as possible, according to USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing & Regulatory Programs Chuck Lambert, who spoke during an industry call this afternoon.

FSIS responded this morning by advising its inspectors to immediately stop issuing export certificates for any beef products destined to Korea. These changes were added to the Export Requirements for South Korea in the FSIS Export Library. Therefore, any product waiting for an export certificate will not be certified by FSIS. USMEF is seeking clarification on how product already outside the United States enroute to Korea will be handled.

USMEF will provide updates as more information becomes available.