Embargo on U.S. Beef May Not Be Maintained

The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), an international organization on animal disease control, will put the issue of easing the trade requirements on beef from countries stricken by the mad cow disease on the agenda for its General Assembly to be held late this month.

If the agenda is passed, the Korean government will face difficulty in maintaining the current embargo on U.S. beef.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) said on Tuesday that the OIE would raise the issue of the revision of the animal health regulations regarding the BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) at the 72nd General Assembly, which will be held in Paris from May 23 to May 28.

According to the revised regulations, beef and cows which originated from BSE-hit countries are included in the items to be traded freely regardless of risk levels set by each nation. Still, some strings will be attached to comply with animal raising and slaughtering regulations.

“The revision of the requirements by the OIE is known to be under way, understanding that beef is not a carrier of the mad cow disease,” said Managing Director Kim Chang-seop of the Veterinary Diseases Control Division of the MAF. “Although the Korean government expresses opposition to the passage of the agenda, it is not certain whether the situation will develop as we want since many nations support the revision.”

The livestock and poultry trade requirements set by the OIE is adopted as the standard for the World Trade Organization. Therefore, if the government maintains the embargo on beef after the passage of the agenda citing the BSE and without further reasonable considerations, the measure can be filed at the WTO. Currently, the Korean government is placing an embargo on beef and cows from the U.S. and other countries hit by the mad cow disease along with their neighboring 34 countries.

Jin-Hup Song jinhup@donga.com