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Food News Clipping

March 04, 2011

2011.03.04

FAS/Seoul Monitoring of Media Reporting on Agricultural Issues
Today's Date:   March Friday 04, 2011
For Coverage:  March 03 - 04, 2011
 
 
1. BILATERAL/MULTILATERAL ISSUES
 

Korea-EU FTA deal heads to parliament [English, CSY]

Opposition wants to delay approval

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2933021

A motion to ratify the Korea-EU free trade agreement was submitted to the National Assembly¡¯s Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification Committee yesterday, but political differences emerged concerning the ratification schedule.  The ruling Grand National Party is aiming to have the trade pact approved by March 9 after two days of subcommittee hearings. But the main opposition Democratic Party wants to take more time to examine the impact of the FTA on the local economy. The DP has already taken the government to task for submitting an earlier version of pact with translation errors.

 
2. LIVESTOCK ISSUES
 

S. Korea confirms additional bird flu outbreak [English, CSY]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2011/03/03/0501000000AEN20110303005700320.HTML

South Korea confirmed an additional bird flu case at a duck farm in the southern part of the country on Thursday amid a recent decline in the number of suspected cases.  Tests showed that 31,000 birds at a poultry farm in Goheung, 475 kilometers south of Seoul, were infected with the virulent H5N1 strain of the avian influenza (AI), the farm ministry said.

 

Gov't mulls capping livestock population [English, CSY]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2011/03/04/25/0301000000AEN20110304002500315F.HTML

South Korea is pondering a revision of livestock farming regulations to limit the number of cows, pigs and draft animals raised at local ranches, officials said Friday.  The idea is among a package of policy proposals reported to President Lee Myung-bak aimed at lessening the vulnerability of livestock here to contagious diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease and bird flu, they added.  The ongoing endemic of foot-and-mouth disease nationwide has sounded an alarm bell for the government and farmers.   "There are opinions that South Korea is susceptible to foot-and-mouth and other contagious diseases due to the high density of animal farming, as many livestock are raised in small places," an official at Lee's office Cheong Wa Dae told Yonhap News Agency by phone. He asked not to be named.

 

Seoul Dairy may Reduce Fluid Milk Supply to Convenience Stores [Korean, OSY]

http://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2011030309131&sid=0104&nid=004&ltype=1

Summary: Seoul Dairy, the leading fluid milk supplier in Korea, announced on March 3 that it sent a memo to leading convenience store chains that it might reduce the supply of fluid milk by as much as 40 percent.  The memo reflects worries in the company that it might not be able to meet the supply contract with major customers due to reduced milk production under FMD situation.

 
3. MARKETING ISSUES
 

More Restaurants Open Their Kitchens for Safety Image [Korean, OSY]

http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/economy/2011/03/03/0302000000AKR20110303214800003.HTML

Summary: Increased numbers of restaurants are opening their kitchens to the consumers in an effort to build a safety image.  For example, Tous Les Jour, a leading bakery chain, has launched a new store layout, which has no wall that separates the kitchen (baking) area from the rest of the store area.  Customers can see the whole operation of baking as they shop products.  See through windows are another tool that are adopted by more restaurants.

 
4. OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES
 

Harmful bacteria found in local baby formula [English, CSY]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2011/03/04/0501000000AEN20110304001900320.HTML

South Korea's state quarantine service said Friday that a locally produced baby formula was found to be contaminated with harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning.  The staphylococcus aureus bacteria, also called golden staph, was found in the Absolute Premium Plus-2 formula made by Maeil Diaries Co., the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service (NVRQS) said.

 

Food Poisoning Bacteria Found in Premium Infant Formula [Korean, OSY]

http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/economy/2011/03/04/0301000000AKR20110304072800003.HTML?template=2087

Summary: NVRQS reported on March 4 that its recent food safety inspection found Staphylococcus, food poisoning bacteria in premium infant formula (¡°Absolute Baby¡± brand) made by Maeil Dairy Co.  Maeil dairy immediately placed a recall on the product, while releasing a statement that it could not believe the test result by NVRQS and would retest the product on its own. 

 
 

 

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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Agricultural Trade Office, U.S. Embassy - Seoul
Tel: 82-2-6951-6848 Fax: 82-2-720-7921
Email: atoseoul@state.gov