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Food News Clipping

January 24, 2011

2011.01.24

FAS/Seoul Monitoring of Media Reporting on Agricultural Issues

Today's Date: Monday January 24, 2011

For Coverage: January 21 - 24, 2011

1. Bilateral/Multilateral Issues

Opposition resistance to FTA [English, CSY]

http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2011012469018

Summary: In Korea, main opposition Democratic Party lawmaker Chun Jung-bae, fellow party member Rep. Lee Jong-gul and progressive Democratic Labor Party chief Kang Ki-kap expressed willingness to visit the U.S. to block ratification of the free trade deal with the U.S. Chung Hee-sung, vice chairman of the militant Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Lee Kwang-seok, chairman of Korea Farmers’ League, and Park Won-seok, secretary-general of the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, are also set to go on the trip. They claim the agreement will worsen the quality of life for the majority of people in both countries and undermine the basis of economic growth. Japan and China, both of which do not want the pact to be implemented, will feel grateful to Koreans who oppose the deal.

Chun served as justice minister under the Roh Moo-hyun government, an administration that began negotiations for the agreement and concluded it in April 2007. Chun was minister in February 2006 when the Roh government announced the beginning of the negotiations and in June and July the same year when the first and second rounds of negotiations were carried out. Like Chun, Lee Jong-gul broke away from the Democratic Party and joined the Uri Party loyal to President Roh. Chun and Lee Jong-gul, who were called pro-Roh politicians, are poised to nullify one of the former president’s few achievements. For his part, Kang, who became a lawmaker thanks to internal conflict within the ruling Grand National Party, is attempting to threaten national interests.

2. Livestock Issues

S. Korea mulls development of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine [English, CSY]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2011/01/23/38/0301000000

Summary: Signaling a more proactive approach to preventing massive outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), President Lee Myung-bak said Monday that his administration is considering the local production of anti-FMD vaccines.

FMD hits famous beef producing region [English, CSY]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation

Summary: The deadly foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and avian influenza are wreaking havoc on the nation’s livestock and poultry industries, spreading relentlessly in key regions the nation heavily relies on for beef and chicken. Cows at a farm in Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province, the nation’s second largest beef producing area, tested positive for the highly contagious FMD, the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said Sunday. The FMD infection in Sangju has come even after the quarantine authorities vaccinated animals there. Sangju, where 64,000 cows are raised, is only behind Gyeongju with 77,000 cows in beef production. With the high quality of meat, Sangju beef was used for the main dish at the G20 Seoul Summit dinner last November. This is the first time for the disease to break out in the region — Sangju has been FMD-free since the first outbreak in Andong in the same province, and Agriculture Minister Yoo Jeong-bok recently praised the region’s epidemic prevention system.

3. Markeing Issues

CJ Jeiljedang Remains the Leading Supplier of Imported Grape Seed Oil [Korean, OSY]

http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/economy/2011/01/24/031

Summary: According to an AC Neilson data, CJ Jeiljedang remained the leading supplier of imported grape seed oil in Korea at W26 billion of sales in 2010, which accounted for 28.3 percent of total sales of grape seed oil in the market. Total sales of imported grape seed oil in 2010 amounted to W92 billion. The market size of imported grape seed oil has grown 10 times since 2005.

Gov’t to Lower Import Tariffs Additionally on 7 Consumer Products, including Frozen Mackerel, Frozen Dried Pollack Meat, Infant Formula, and Coffee [Korean, OSY]

http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/economy/2011/01/21/0318000

Summary: Gov’t announced on Jan. 21 that it will additionally lower import tariffs on seven consumer products, including Mackerel, Frozen Dried Pollack Meat, Infant Formula, and Coffee, in an effort to stabilize the soaring consumer price. Gov’t has announced a list of 67 products earlier in January which will be subject to a temporary import tariff reduction. Gov’t will announce exact amount of cuts for the additional products soon.

4. North Korea Issues

Historic cold could hamper N. Korea's food production [English, CSY]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011

Summary:

North Korea

’s state media said Saturday the harsh winter that has hit the peninsula has caused hardship for “the people’s lives” and could severely affect spring farming activities. South Korean humanitarian aid groups project that the harsh conditions are severely compounding existing malnutrition and shelter problems. Vismita Gupta-Smith, an official of the World Health Organization, which operates an office in Pyongyang, said no unusual pattern of disease or health conditions had been observed by WHO staff. Any effect of the cold on the spring farming season would come at a particularly inopportune time: the United Nations recently estimated that some 5 million North Koreans will face food shortages this year as the impoverished country continues to struggle with a lack of staple grains.

5. Other/Miscellaneous Issues

Another cabbage crisis on the way [English, CSY]

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2931331

Summary: This year the supply of cabbage is scarce and is raising concerns that the country might once again face this spring a so-called “cabbage crisis,” similar to the one last autumn. According to the Korea Rural Economic Institute, the amount of winter cabbage production this year is expected to be 270,000 tons, which is less than the yearly average of 370,000 tons. The lack of supplies, which is blamed on the cold weather, is raising the price of Napa cabbage. According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corporation, the price of Napa cabbage per head rose to 4,400 won ($3.90) early this month, increasing from 3,500 won per head last month. On Wednesday, the price even reached over the 5,000 won level per head and industry officials expect the price to jump even more. Last year, the country faced a crisis as the price of cabbage temporarily skyrocketed to more than 14,000 won per head due to a poor harvest and unusual weather patterns.

The information in this report was compiled by the Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea. The press summaries contained herein do NOT reflect USDA, the U.S. Embassy, or other U.S. government agency official policy or view point. U.S. food exporters can learn more about market opportunities in South Korea by reviewing ATO Seoul’s Exporter Guide and other reports available at www.fas.usda.gov by clicking on “attaché reports”.

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