Foreign-bred cattle imported into Korea

For the first time since the government decided at the beginning of this year to allow the import of foreign cattle, 663 head of cattle were shipped to Korea Monday.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said that 663 head of cattle imported from Australia by Nongwon Food, a food manufacturer based in Kimhae, South Kyongsang Province, had arrived in Korea through the western port city of Incheon and were now undergoing quarantine procedures.

Officials said that the cattle, which weigh 430 to 450kg each, would be sold to farmers early next month following some two weeks of quarantine. After being fattened for more than six months, the cattle will be slaughtered and their meat will be sold to consumers.

The import price of the cattle was 1.66 million won per head including costs for customs clearance and quarantine procedures. This amount is much lower than the 2.61 million won per head of domestically bred cattle weighing 500kg.

To prevent the meat from imported cattle being disguised as that from domestically bred cows and sold to customers, the government will put ear-tags on them specifying their original countries. The government will also ensure strong safety control in all stages from breeding and slaughtering to processing and marketing. However, those cattle raised in Korea for more than six months after being imported will be allowed to carry labels classifying their meat as being from domestically bred cattle, although the labels will also be required to specify the origin, too.