ID :
20942
Wed, 09/24/2008 - 09:50
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/20942
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea OKs beef imports from 18 U.S. slaughterhouses
By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea approved imports of beef from 18 additional U.S. slaughterhouses that met quality and sanitation standards, the government quarantine service said Wednesday.
The National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service (NVRQS) said permission
was granted after inspectors checked to make sure the facilities maintained the
industry-accepted Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points system, which is
designed to remove all materials and manufacturing processes that can jeopardize
the health of consumers.
The approval raises the number of U.S. slaughterhouses and meat packaging
facilities that can export beef to South Korea to 48.
Seoul agreed to lift a ban on U.S. beef under an agreement signed on April 18,
with actual implementation taking place in late June.
"Inspectors checked for a standing regime to check the age of animals being
butchered, proper removal of specified risk materials that run the greatest risk
of transmitting mad cow disease to humans, and the ability to track the place of
origin of the animals," a NVRQS official said. He added that the facilities
followed approved rules on screening so-called downer cows that may be suffering
from various diseases.
Seoul had sent inspectors early this month to check 22 slaughterhouse that wanted
to ship beef to South Korea. Of the total, one reconsidered because it could not
meet the "Less than 30 Month Age-Verification Quality System Assessment (QSA)
Program" agreed upon by Seoul and Washington to alleviate local concerns about
U.S. beef safety.
Requests by three others were turned down because they had poor sanitary
conditions along with inadequate microbe detection and other contamination
prevention systems.
The quarantine service under the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries said the three slaughterhouse that failed to meet standards could take
remedial action that would allow them to ship products in the future.
Under the revised import rules, Seoul has the authority to approve exports from
U.S. slaughterhouses up till 90 days after the ban is lifted, with Washington
taking over such duties after this period.
South Korean officials, however, claim that because all meat exporters must meet
the QSA standards, the number of facilities that can ship meat will be limited.
In addition to the new meat packers that want to export beef, the government sent
experts to Omaha-based Nebraska Beef Ltd., and found no problems with processing
conditions.
The packer had already been approved for exporting meat to South Korea, but had
to recall large quantities of minced beef after they were found to be
contaminated with the E. coli O157 bacteria.
The bacteria can cause non-life threatening symptoms such as fever, stomach
cramps, diarrhea and vomiting, although in rare cases it can cause hemolytic
uremic syndrome, leading to permanent liver damage and even death.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea approved imports of beef from 18 additional U.S. slaughterhouses that met quality and sanitation standards, the government quarantine service said Wednesday.
The National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service (NVRQS) said permission
was granted after inspectors checked to make sure the facilities maintained the
industry-accepted Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points system, which is
designed to remove all materials and manufacturing processes that can jeopardize
the health of consumers.
The approval raises the number of U.S. slaughterhouses and meat packaging
facilities that can export beef to South Korea to 48.
Seoul agreed to lift a ban on U.S. beef under an agreement signed on April 18,
with actual implementation taking place in late June.
"Inspectors checked for a standing regime to check the age of animals being
butchered, proper removal of specified risk materials that run the greatest risk
of transmitting mad cow disease to humans, and the ability to track the place of
origin of the animals," a NVRQS official said. He added that the facilities
followed approved rules on screening so-called downer cows that may be suffering
from various diseases.
Seoul had sent inspectors early this month to check 22 slaughterhouse that wanted
to ship beef to South Korea. Of the total, one reconsidered because it could not
meet the "Less than 30 Month Age-Verification Quality System Assessment (QSA)
Program" agreed upon by Seoul and Washington to alleviate local concerns about
U.S. beef safety.
Requests by three others were turned down because they had poor sanitary
conditions along with inadequate microbe detection and other contamination
prevention systems.
The quarantine service under the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries said the three slaughterhouse that failed to meet standards could take
remedial action that would allow them to ship products in the future.
Under the revised import rules, Seoul has the authority to approve exports from
U.S. slaughterhouses up till 90 days after the ban is lifted, with Washington
taking over such duties after this period.
South Korean officials, however, claim that because all meat exporters must meet
the QSA standards, the number of facilities that can ship meat will be limited.
In addition to the new meat packers that want to export beef, the government sent
experts to Omaha-based Nebraska Beef Ltd., and found no problems with processing
conditions.
The packer had already been approved for exporting meat to South Korea, but had
to recall large quantities of minced beef after they were found to be
contaminated with the E. coli O157 bacteria.
The bacteria can cause non-life threatening symptoms such as fever, stomach
cramps, diarrhea and vomiting, although in rare cases it can cause hemolytic
uremic syndrome, leading to permanent liver damage and even death.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
