Mad Cow Fears Continue In South Korea, But U.S. Beef Is Back
United States beef is moving in South Korea today for the first time since 2003 when a single cow from Canada showed up in Washington State with Mad Cow disease. The U.S.-South Korea free trade agreement cleared the way for U.S. beef to the nation that was its third largest export market.
Fears and street protests about Mad Cow disease held up re-opening South Korea to U.S. beef for a few extra days. According to the AFP news service:
Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-Chun said the imports would resume under new rules proritising the public's health, but the opposition decried the move and thousands of people protested later Thursday.
"The government has fixed new sanitary conditions for importing beef," Chung said in a speech covered live on television. "The government will prioritise public health and safety in carrying out its policies."
He said the US beef imports would be thoroughly inspected and apologised for failing to prevent the spread of anxiety over mad cow disease. Seoul and Washington have previously said US beef is totally safe.
The government sent 1,200 riot policemen to guard a dozen cold storage areas that were apparently already filled with U.S. beef. Moving it from those lockers to Korean tables might be difficult as union truckers are being urged not to haul American beef.
Seoul saw another night of protests with about 7,000 toting candles through the streets. For the AFT wrap-up on the re-entry of American beef, go here.
For a case of mad cow disease cured see micro-et.com
If the Korean people do not want USA beef then the Americans should not insist on selling it to them.
If the S. Korean people do not want US beef they can simply elect to not purchase it.