Today's Date:      Friday, April 27, 2012

1. LIVESTOCK ISSUES

“0.1% Sampling is Not Enough for BSE Testing”, American Consumer Group [Korean, OSY]

http://economy.donga.com/Economy_RealTime/3/01/20120427/45829297/4&top=1

Summary: The dispute over the safety testing system on beef cattle has re-ignited in the U.S.  According to the Reuters, total USDA budget allocated to ‘Beef Health Management Program’ this year is $99 million, down by $13 million from last year.  The regulation proposal for a mandatory beef cattle tracking system has been drifting over the last 9 years.  Only 0.12 percent (or 40,000 heads) of the 34 million beef cattle under 30 months slaughtered each year is tested for the BSE risk.  The American Consumer Union is arguing that such a low testing ratio cannot guarantee the safety of American beef, so larger number of cattle should be tested.  Bloomberg reported that the number of beef cattle tested for BSE reduced 90 percent last year compared to 2005.

Opposition Parties Demand Immediate Import Ban on American Beef [Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/Inter/Feed_New02/3/0216/20120427/45829310/1

Summary: Opposition parties demanded immediate import ban on American beef for BSE risk on May 26.  Opposition parties pointed out that the ruling party promised in 2008 when dealing with the nationwide candle light protests against American beef that the Korean government will close down the market for American beef if new case of Mad Cow Disease occurs in the U.S.  The ruling party also commented on May 26 in its press briefing that the government should consider banning imports of American beef if American beef presents any health risk to the Korean consumers.

Blue House and Korean Government in Active Response to Prevent Consumer Hypes on Mad Cow Disease … Sung Kim, American Ambassador says “No American Mad Cow Is Imported into Korea” [Korean, OSY]

http://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2012042690091&sid=01050903&nid=005&ltype=1

Summary: The Korean government and the consumers are recovering from the initial shock of the new mad cow incident partly because neither EU nor Japan has not placed any import restriction on American beef yet while American government is stressing the safety of American beef.  It is reported that retailers and consumers in Japan have showed little interest in the issue.  Meanwhile, Sung Kim, the American ambassador to Korea said through his blog on April 26 that “there is zero chance for the American mad cow being imported into Korea.  I and my family will continue to eat American beef”.  Korean Ministry of Agriculture has announced that the ratio of imported American beef that is subject to detail safety inspection will be increased from the current 3% to 30% to help assure the safety of American beef.