ressure for submitting KORUS FTA Bill mount in the United States [English: BYK]

http://news.mk.co.kr/outside/view.php?year=2010&no=110305

Summary: An agenda pushing for proposing a legislative bill for the South Korea-United States FTA (KORUS FTA) ratification has been submitted to U.S. Congress.  Florida’s Republican Party members revealed on their websites on March 1 (local time) that they submitted a resolution to the House of Representatives to call on the Obama administration to submit the bill for the KORUS FTA ratification. The bill for the free trade pact is yet to be proposed to the Congress.  In an interview with Newsweek on February 12, U.S. President Obama said "We will put in our very best efforts for the bill to be passed within the year. However, there are some concerns over the automobile sector due to tariff issues."  Congress is waiting for the ball to be passed in the Congress court and urging the Obama administration to send in the bill.

 

Six years since Korea-Chile FTA went into effect…trade volume drops in recent 2 years [Korean: BYK] http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2010/03/31/0200000000AKR

20100331077600002.HTML?did=1179m

Summary: According to Korea Customs Service (KCS), the trade volume between Korea and Chile increased to $5.33 billion in 2009 from $1.58 billion in 2003, prior to the FTA.  However, the trade volume continued to increase up to 2007 when it reached $7.2 billion and then began to drop.  KCS explained that this was due to the slow economy throughout the world as well as the diminishing effect of establishing a FTA with Chile at an earlier date.  Chile has implemented FTAs with China and Japan since the FTA with Korea went into effect and now Korean products are competing with these countries in the Chilean market.

 

There are enough votes within U.S. Congress for ratification of KORUS FTA [Korean: BYK] http://www.segye.com/Articles/NEWS/INTERNATIONAL/Article.asp?aid=

20100304004312&subctg1=&subctg2=

Summary:  According to diplomatic sources in Washington, D.C., there currently are enough Congressmen within the U.S. congress that is in favor of ratifying the KORUS FTA to pass the bill.  Such phenomena happened after President Obama expressed his hope to get the pending FTA bills ratified.

 

S. Korea seeks to sign FTA with EU by April [English: CSY]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2010/03/10/0502000000AEN

20100310006600320.HTML

Summary: South Korea is seeking to formally clinch a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union by the end of April, a senior trade official here said Wednesday.  After two years of negotiations, South Korea and the EU initialed the final text of the trade deal in October last year. The deal still needs to be approved by South Korea's National Assembly and the heads of the EU's 27-member states to go into force.

 

S. Korea, EU to hold ministerial meeting over free trade deal [English: CSY]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2010/03/14/0502000000AEN

20100314001400320.HTML

Summary: Trade ministers from South Korea and the European Union (EU) will meet in Brussels on Monday to assess the progress of the final steps toward a bilateral free trade agreement, the Seoul's trade ministry said Sunday.  After a meeting with EU Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht, South Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon will also meet other high-ranking EU officials, according to the ministry.

 

Fourth Round of Korea-Australia FTA Kicks off in Seoul [English: CSY]

http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=101103&code=Ne4&category=3

Full text: Fourth Round of Korea-Australia FTA Kicks off in Seoul. A fourth round of free trade negotiations between Korea and Australia opened in Seoul this Monday morning. During the four day talks the two sides will focus on pending issues from past discussions while trying to make progress in agriculture a main point of interest for Korea. A finalized Korea-Australia free trade agreement is expected to strengthen cooperation in the energy and mineral resources sectors as well as boost bilateral trade that stood at 20 billion US dollars in 2009. Korea's trade ministry announced earlier this year that it aims to conclude the FTA talks by the end of 2010.

 

Ratification of S. Korea-US free trade deal unlikely before November: minister [English: CSY]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2010/03/12/0502000000AEN

20100312003700320.HTML

Summary: U.S. Congress is not likely to move toward ratification of a pending free trade accord with South Korea before the politically sensitive mid-term elections in November, Seoul's trade minister said Friday.   The free trade pact between Korea and the United States was signed in 2007 but still awaits ratification in the legislatures of both countries.

"I think ratification of the free trade deal by U.S. Congress may be difficult before the mid-term elections in November (in the U.S.)," South Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon said in a meeting with businessmen.

 

2. Biotechnology Issues

 

China: GM Rice Sold in Market, government denied [Korean: CSA]

http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=104&oid=001&aid

=0003171118

Summary) Greenpeace China tested rice sold in the market in China and confirmed the presence of two Bt rice events through DNA testing.  Greenpeace said that the sale of GM rice is in violation of Chinese regulation, which does not permit the sales of GM crops.  However, Chinese government said that they could not trust testing conducted by Greenpeace.

 

S. Korea to send bean seeds to Afghanistan [English: CSY]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2010/03/13/0502000000AEN

20100313001800320.HTML

Summary: South Korea will send 220 kilograms of bean seeds to Afghanistan as part of an international effort to alleviate the country's serious food shortage caused by severe drought and cold weather, the government said Sunday.  Six different types of seeds will be offered free as part of Seoul's contribution to help the people of Afghanistan, the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said.

 
3. Economic Issues

 

S. Korean economic growth to pick up in Q1: BOK [English: CSY]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2010/03/26/25/0503000000AEN

20100326002500320F.HTML

Summary: The growth of the South Korean economy is widely expected to accelerate in the first quarter following weaker growth last quarter, aided by improving consumer spending and exports, the central bank said Friday, dismissing views that the economy is losing steam.     Asia's fourth-largest economy grew 0.2 percent in the final quarter of 2009 from three months earlier, sharply slowing from a 3.2 percent expansion in the third quarter, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). The fourth-quarter expansion was in line with the bank's January estimate.

 

4. Grain/Oilseed Issues

  None

 

5. Livestock Issues

 

Gov’t to prop up milk industry as FTA kicks in [English: CSY]

‘The comprehensive plan is aimed at alleviating concerns of local dairy farmers.’

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2917502

Summary: Korea will maintain 2 million tons of milk production annually to help the local dairy industry deal with an influx of imports once a free trade pact with the European Union (EU) goes into effect, the government said yesterday.  The comprehensive support plan by the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries calls for 30 billion won ($26.2 million) to be set aside so the government can buy milk from dairy farmers to sustain prices.

 

Korea to Get 'Controlled Risk' Status on Mad Cow Disease [English: CSY]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2010/03/123_62328.html

Summary: South Korea is likely to be categorized by an international animal health-governing body as a controlled-risk country for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), more commonly known as mad cow disease, the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said Sunday.  A livestock technical committee at the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) said last week that the country could see its classification upgraded after meeting livestock control and testing standards, ministry officials said.

 

The committee decision will be open to be reviewed by OIE member countries for 60 days, before earning the final confirmation from the body in May if no objections are raised. With the controlled risk status, Korea will be able to export beef with few restrictions.

 

S. Korea to enforce new packaging rules on egg products in 2011 [English: CSY]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2010/03/12/85/0501000000AEN

20100312004500320F.HTML

Summary: South Korea will enforce mandatory labelling and packaging rules on all egg products sold on the market to enhance consumer rights and deal with substandard products, the government said Friday. The farm ministry said the new rules. which will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2011, calls on egg producers to clearly show the date of production, shelf life and have labels with the name of the packaging company.

 

KFDA asked to allow meat radiation [English: CSY] – March 16, 2010

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2917918

Summary: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute has asked the Korea Food and Drug Administration to allow radiation sterilization of beef, pork, poultry products and seafood.  Currently, radiation is only permitted on 26 foods which include red pepper powder, gochujang (red pepper paste) and doenjang (bean paste) sauces and meals for hospital patients but not on meat products.

 

The institute made the same request in 2000 but it was rejected at that time as the state-run food and drug agency argued that the safety of radiation sterilization of meat is still uncertain.  The state-run atomic energy research institute argues that the safety of radiation sterilization has already been verified by international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. There are also other benefits, institute officials said.

 

Korea to introduce livestock welfare guidelines [English: CSY]

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2010/03/24/201003240081.asp

Full Text: Korea plans to introduce international guidelines on improving livestock welfare to reflect current trends supporting the humane treatment of farm animals, a government veterinary agency said Wednesday, according to Yonhap News.  The National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service said it is seeking measures to certify farms that raise animals in a comfortable and clean environment.

 

The certificate is aimed at informing consumers about the meat they are eating and whether it comes from farms that provide adequate space for animals, which could lead to a cutback in antibiotic use.  Current practices involving raising animals in high-density cages, coops and pens make it necessary to use large quantities of antibiotics to keep the animals from getting sick.  The service under the farm ministry said the measures will reflect action being taken by the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health to set humane guidelines for the raising, transportation, butchering or culling of livestock around the world.

 

Gov’t: HMD outbreak officially over [English: CSY]

Nearly 6,000 animals were killed to stop spread of hoof-and-mouth disease

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2918250

Summary: The Korean government declared yesterday that hoof-and-mouth disease has been fully contained in the country - 81 days after a recent outbreak that led to the slaughter of 5,956 cows, hogs and other livestock here.  The Agriculture Ministry said it will officially request in June that the World Organization of Animal Health redesignate Korea as a “clean country,” an initial step to resuming exports of its livestock to other nations.  If the organization finds the request reasonable, it could grant Korea the clean country designation as early as September, local government officials said.

 

U.S. beef imports surge in first two months of 2010 [English: CSY]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2010/03/26/0502000000AEN

20100326002000320.HTML

Full Text: U.S. beef imports to South Korea surged in the first two months of this year, raising speculation that public concerns about the safety of the meat have eased, data compiled by a state-run farm trading corporation said Friday.  Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corp. said inbound shipments of U.S. beef soared to 13,802 tons in the January-February period on a customs cleared basis, up 57.2 percent from the same period last year.  In terms of value, South Korea's beef imports from the United States gained 25.3 percent to US$58.98 million during the reported period.  The trade corporation also said that U.S. beef imports, which rose steadily last year, stood at 3,727 tons in February and 5,442 tons in August, exceeding 7,000 tons in December.

 

"Because import figures are calculated on an annual basis, it may be too early to say that consumer confidence in U.S. beef has been fully restored," a corporation official said.

South Korea lifted most restrictions on U.S. beef in June 2008, a move that sparked nationwide rallies fueled by fears of mad cow disease, causing domestic demand for U.S. beef to remain weak amid the safety concerns. The Korea Meat Import Association, however, claims that misconceptions regarding the safety of U.S. beef are subsiding with the passage of time.  American beef enjoyed a 67 percent market share in South Korea prior to the decision to halt imports from the U.S. in late 2003 following the discovery of the first mad cow disease case there.

 

There was a constitutional violation in the procedure taken during the Korea-U.S. beef import protocol talks [Korean: BYK]

http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2010033112003992542

Summary: A researcher working at the National Assembly’s research branch claimed that there was a violation in the constitutional procedure during the finalization of the U.S. beef import protocol.  He made such claims in a paper that was released on March 31^st on the basis that the protocol should have undergone deliberation by the standing committee of the National Assembly.

 

6. Marketing Issues

 

Korea Has 6.8 Times More Restaurants Per Population Than the U.S. [Korean, OSY]

http://article.joins.com/article/article.asp?total_id=4039399&cloc=rss|news|economy

Summary: According to a report by Korea Chamber of Commerce, Korea has much higher concentration on restaurant business than developed countries.  For example, Korea has 12.2 restaurants per 1,000 people, which is 6.8 times higher than the U.S. figure or 2.2 times higher than Japan.  The report pointed out that the Korean government should adopt more deregulation policies to encourage restructuring of the service industry.

 

MAFFF Launches Public Web-site that Provides Certification Information of Processed Organic Food [Korean, OSY]

http://kr.news.yahoo.com/service/news/shellview.htm?articleid=20100303030000

40110&linkid=4&newssetid=1352

Summary: Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery, Forestry & Food (MAFFF) has launched a public website, www.goodfood.go.kr, where consumers can verify certificate and ingredient information of processed organic food sold in the market.  Ministry plans to additionally launch mobile version for cell phones later this year to make the service available on the spot of sales.  Ministry believes that this service will prevent fraud use of organic labeling.

 

Hypermarkets Picks Instant Noodel as Next Target for Price War [Korean, OSY] http://kr.news.yahoo.com/service/news/shellview.htm?articleid=20100303210

42590023&linkid=4&newssetid=1352

Summary: Another round of price war among leading hypermarkets has started.  This time the target product is instant noodle.  E-Mart has started a price discount promotion on Sin-La-Myon (as high as 9 percent depending on packaging), the leading instant noodle brand in the market, on March 4, which was promptly responded by competitors with the same or even larger price cut.  Hypermarkets have expanded the price cut promotion to Sam-Yang-La-Myon, the second leading brand.

 

Earthquake Likely to Have a Serious Impact on Chilean Wine Export to Korea [Korean, OSY]

http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/03/05/2010030500024.html

Summary: According to Chilean wine producers association, about 20 percent of wine production facility, valued at $600 million, in Chile was damaged by the recent earthquake that hit the central part of Chile.  The largest producer, Conchay Toro, estimated that this year’s wine production would be reduced by 8 percent due to the damage.  Local importers of Chilean wine are worried that the price of Chilean wine would see 30-40 percent increase around May as a result.

 

Wine Sales Shows a Sign of Recovery [Korean, OSY] http://kr.news.yahoo.com/service/news/shellview.htm?linkid=447&articleid=

2010030506150051101&newssetid=463

Summary: Major retailers have reported a significant increase of wine sales in January and February.  Lotte Department Store reported a 16.8 percent of growth while Shinsegae E-Mart reported a 5.2 percent growth.  As the wine consumption, which experienced a 20 percent decline last year, is expected to rebound quickly this year, retailers are planning to deploy more aggressive sales promotions in the coming months. 

 

Traditional Liquor Allowed to be Sold through Internet from Next Month [Korean, OSY] http://kr.news.yahoo.com/service/news/shellview.htm?articleid=

2010030803000024310&linkid=4&newssetid=1352

Summary: According to the Ministry of Planning & Finance, traditional liquor will be allowed to be sold through Internet starting from April 1.  To purchase traditional liquor on-line, buyers should earn “adult” certification.  In addition, Internet sales of traditional liquor will be allowed only through home-pages of aT, Korea Mail Service, producer farmers or organizations.  The government is also considering revision of the traditional liquor law to reduce the minimum use requirement on self-grown ingredients.  Currently minimum 50 percent of ingredients should be from the producer’s farms for products to be recognized as traditional liquor.

 

Gov’t to Introduce Quality Certification Program on Rice Wine [Korean, OSY] http://kr.news.yahoo.com/service/news/shellview.htm?articleid=

2010030906190156201&linkid=4&newssetid=1352

Summary: The Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery, Forestry and Food plans to introduce a quality certification program on rice wines from August 2010 which will encourage development of higher quality rice wine in the market.  The plan proposes that rice wines that meet quality standards set by the government will be allowed to have a quality certification label.  The ministry will announce details of the quality standards and certification process later this year.

 

Spiciness of Go-Choo-Jang (Hot Pepper Paste Sauce) Standardized to 5 Levels [Korean, OSY]

http://www.fmnews.co.kr/view_index.php?IDX=13227&PG=1

Summary: Daesang, a leading producer of Go-Choo-Jang (Korean hot pepper paste sauce), announced on March 15 that all packaged Go-Choo-Jang products by Daesang will be labeled for the spiciness according to the new labeling standard developed in partnership with the Korean Cuisine Institute.  The new standard, which aims easier use of Go-Choo-Jang by foreign consumers, have 5 levels of spiciness, Mild, Slightly Hot, Moderate, Very Hot, and Extremely Very Hot.

 

Alcoholic Beverages, including Rice Wine, to be Subject to Mandatory Origin Labeling from July 2010 [Korean, OSY] http://kr.news.yahoo.com/service/news/shellview.htm?articleid=

2010031803000055810&linkid=4&newssetid=1352

Summary: Ministry of Finance & Planning announced that alcoholic beverages including soju, beer, rice wine, fruit wine will be subject to mandatory origin labeling from July 2010.  The ministry expects that the labeling requirement will encourage producers, in particular rice wineries, to use more local rice instead of imported rice.

 

Traditional Liquor Allowed to be Sold on Internet, Up to 50 Bottles Per Consumer Per Day [Korean, OSY] http://kr.news.yahoo.com/service/news/shellview.htm?articleid=

2010031708321422598&linkid=4&newssetid=1352

Summary: National Tax Service announced on March 17 that alcoholic beverages recognized as “traditional liquor” will be allowed to be sold through Internet shopping malls of aT ( www.eatmart.co.kr) and Korea Postal Service ( www.mall.epost.go.kr) from April.  There are 59 “folk alcoholic beverage” producers and 326 “farm alcoholic beverage” producers in Korea currently which as a group accounts for 0.25 percent of total alcoholic beverage production volume, according to the NTS.  The Internet sales is to help these small size producers, added the NTS.  Each adult will be allowed to purchase up to 50 bottles per day.

 

Popular TV Program Questions Health Risk of Synthetic Chicle in Chewing Gum [Korean, OSY] http://kr.news.yahoo.com/service/news/shellview.htm?linkid=

4&articleid=20100323085619785g3&newssetid=1352

Summary: Sponge 2.0, a popular local TV program, raised a question about potential health risk of chewing gum made of synthetic chicle.  The program pointed out that Acetic vinyl gum, a petroleum origin compound that has long been used by local chewing gum manufacturers, may cause skin trouble and cancer.  Local chewing gum manufacturers promptly responded with a claim that Acetic vinyl gum is approved by KFDA for use in chewing gum and has no potential health risk.  By the way, Orion, a leading chewing gum manufacturer, has recently launched a new product that is made 100% of natural gum with an aggressive advertisement campaign themed around the issue of health risk of Acetic vinyl gum.

 

McDonald's Korea to Double Number of Restaurants [English: CSY]

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/03/24/2010032400421.html

Summary: The new managing director of McDonald's Korea said he plans to double the size of the fast-food chain over the next five years. In his first press conference since assuming the post on March 1, Sean Newton on Tuesday said he will increase the number of McDonald's restaurants in Korea from the current 237 to 500 by 2015. Some 200 of the planned new restaurants will offer drive-thru services, he added.

 

Dining alone? Retailers want to get on your table [English: CSY]

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2918511

Summary: Sales of ready-made meals at E-Mart rose 60 percent so far this year compared with last year, according to the retail giant. The discount chain not only offers simple foods like gimbap (dried seaweed rolls) or japchae (glass noodles mixed with vegetables), but also galbitang (beef rib soup) and lasagna.  E-Mart’s competitor, Lotte Mart, has more than 200 kinds of simple prepared meals including galbijjim (steamed short ribs) and herb steak.  

Last week, Homeplus, a discount store run by Samsung Tesco, introduced 17 different kinds of single-packed ready-made products. “Local discount stores are looking for ways to raise sales and to expand the market share amid the stagnant market,” said an industry official. “Targeting single-member households with various kinds of prepared meals is a way to boost sales.”

 

Koreans Used 1 Billion Courier Service Deliveries in 2009 [Korean, OSY]

http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/03/29/2010032900235.html

Summary: According to the Ministry of Land & Marine, total number of courier service deliveries in Korea reached 1 billion in 2009, a significant increase from 400 million in 2002.  In other words each Korean adult used 29 courier deliveries on average.  This large increase is mainly due to the explosive growth of internet shopping.

 

7. North Korea Issues

None

 

8. Other/Miscellaneous Issues

 

MIFAFF to set up system to verify genuine organic products [Korean: BYK] http://mifaff.korea.kr/gonews/branch.do;GONEWSSID=K4KkLNwTh5m362yfTZPbhs

PwWQL3R9ST5NHvH1GnSvlSwp4nmhvw!-1687581086?act=detailView&dataId=

155438293&sectionId=b_sec_1&type=news&currPage=1&flComment=1&flReply=0#

Summary: MIFAFF has set up a “Superior Food Information System” ( http://www.goodfood.go.kr) that will allow consumers to verify whether a specific product is a certified processed organic food or not.  This system will also allow consumers to check to see if it is a certified traditional food product or a Korea Standard (KS food) or not.  As of February 2010, there were 199 companies (among which 60 are foreign entities) that had received organic certification for around 670 products.  This press release provides a list of commodities that have received organic certification.

 

Farmers buy more export insurance [English: CSY]

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2917547

Summary: Korea’s farm export insurance coverage shot up eightfold last year as local agriculture and food companies strove to expand their overseas market share, a state-run insurer said yesterday. According to Korea Export Insurance Corp., total export insurance coverage came to $127 million last year from $16 million tallied for the year before.

 

S. Korea ' s fish farming production surges in 2009: report [English: CSY]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2010/03/10/0502000000AEN

20100310006400320.HTML

Summary: South Korea's fish farming output surged in 2009 due to better market prices and improved production capacity, a government report said Wednesday. According to the report by Statistics Korea, total value of fish produced at local aquaculture facilities reached 981.6 billion won (US$867.1 million) up 28.7 percent from 763.0 billion won tallied for the previous year.

 

S. Korea to spend 7.09 trl won on fisheries industry by 2014 [English: CSY]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2010/03/15/0502000000AEN

20100315003000320.HTML

Summary: South Korea plans to allocate 7.09 trillion won (US$6.24 billion) in investment funds and loans to the local fisheries industry in a bid to make the country the world's 10th largest fisheries good producer by 2014, government officials said Monday. The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries outlined in a report that total fisheries production is projected to reach 3.70 million tons in the target year from 3.36 million tons in 2008.

 

Gov’t Unveils Fishery Industry Support Plan [Korean, OSY] http://kr.news.yahoo.com/service/news/shellview.htm?articleid=

2010031603000047910&linkid=4&newssetid=1352

Summary: Ministry of Ag. Fishery, Forestry & Food (MAFFF) announced the third fishery industry support plan for year 2010-2014.  The plan includes development of 19 large scale sea cultivation farms for high-value fishes such as tuna, mackerel and salmon, building of 38 new ships for distant water fishing, and transition to LED lights on 1,085 fishing boats by 1013.

 

Grocery spending habits shift in anemic economy [English: CSY]

Survey finds that residents spend more on meat, seafood

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2917857

Summary: The Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Nielsen Company compared the shopping habits of 3,163 households nationwide before and after the onset of the global economic crisis in late 2008 to track changes in spending patterns. According to the survey, families increased spending last year on meat by 10.9 percent; followed by seafood (6.8 percent); ramen, or instant noodles (4.8 percent); and agricultural goods (1.6 percent) compared with 2008.  Meanwhile, families spent 14 percent less on frozen and refrigerated products such as pizza and ice cream, which are considered comfort foods. Spending dipped 12.8 percent on ready-made meals and food products and 6.2 percent on alcoholic drinks, according to the survey.

 

S. Korea to export tangerines, apples to U.S. [English: CSY]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2010/03/17/0502000000AEN

20100317003400320.HTML

Summary: The United States has agreed to resume its imports of South Korean tangerines starting from this year, blazing the trail for local fruit growers to expand into the North American market, the government said Wednesday. The farm ministry said South Korean and U.S. negotiators also agreed at the plant quarantine inspection talks held Oregon last week, to remove restrictions that have barred sales of apples in the coming months.

 

Korea opposes ban on lucrative tuna exports [English: CSY]

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2010/03/18/201003180047.asp

Summary: Japan, the world's leading consumer of bluefin tuna, fears being deprived of the luxury to enjoy the highly touted expensive type of tuna because of the proposal led by Europe to ban exports of it.  At the center of the proposed ban is the bluefin tuna that are most common in the Atlantic and Pacific. Conservation groups say over-fishing is driving the breed into extinction. For Korea, a major supplier of blue-fin tuna, it means fear of losing a lucrative income generator for the nation's fishing industry. Experts here say the bigger issue for Korea is that the ban might expand to other types of tuna, such as the yellowfin and bigeye.

 

Tough love to save our farms [English: CSY]

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2918168

Summary: In this high-tech information age, agriculture took a back seat in Korean society a long time ago. In fact, some have even made the extreme assertion that agriculture is a stumbling block to the country’s economic development.  Since the Korean government opened the country’s rice market, the agricultural industry has suffered even more. The government poured in huge subsidies hoping to revive it, but to no avail. There is an old Korean saying that farming is an indispensable part of society. While that may hold some truth even today, it’s pretty obvious that it can no longer grow on its own.

 

BD 20 gas station to open in Gangdong District, Seoul [Korean: CSY]

http://www.e2news.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=35825

Summary: Seoul Metropolitan City announced that the designated gas station for Biodiesel 20 (BD20) will be opened in Gangdong district, Seoul on March 24, 2010. The BD 20 gas station will supply BD 20 to about 250 government official vehicles including garbage trucks.

 

1st Food Safety Policy Commission Meeting on March 24 [Korean: CSA]

http://news.mk.co.kr/outside/view.php?year=2010&no=149066

Summary) The first Food Safety Policy Commission meeting led by the Prime Minister was held on March 24.  The Commission reviewed the food safety management implementation measures and plans and agreed on the following future measures.  1) To develop a program that can check high calorie low nutrient food through a mobile phone, 2) To reduce the level of transfat in processed products to zero by 2012, 3) to expand the barcode checking program for processed food at cashier counters to small and medium size outlets, 4) To fully implement the trace back system for imported beef, and 5) To introduce an importer responsibility program for safety by requiring testing certificate for products with high violation records.

 

Argentine Skate Imports Ranked 1st Place in 2009 [Korean: CSY] http://media.daum.net/politics/administration/view.html?cateid=1038&newsid=

20100324062103905&p=yonhap&RIGHT_TOPIC=R3

Summary: Argentine skate imports took over the first place in the Korean market from the Chilean skate since 2006. The Korea Customs Service (KCS) announced that Argentine skate imports covered 33.3 percent with 3,143 tons in 2010 followed by Chile (23.5%) and U.S. (21.7%).  The Chilean skate imports (2,491 tons) was doubled over the Argentine skate imports in 1999 but the skate imports from Chile decreased since 2006 due to the reduced skate catch quantity.

 

Nutrition Facts of Expressway Rest Stop Food to Be Provided [English: CSY]

http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=101586&code=Ne2&category=2

Full text: Nutritional facts of food sold at expressway rest stops are set to be provided in Korea. According to the Korea Food & Drug Administration, around 100 kinds of food, including 70 dishes and 30 beverages served at Jukjeon Service Area in Gyeonggi Province, will be labeled with nutritional facts starting Monday.  The labeling will be done next to the name or price tag of the food so that consumers can easily see them before ordering.  The government says Korea is the first to do this and that it plans to expand the program to all service areas across the nation.  More than 1-million people are said to visit expressway rest stops each day.

 

New KFDA Commissioner Appointment [Korean: CSA]

http://www.hkn24.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=45079

Summary) The Secretary to the President for Health and Welfare Dr. Noh, Yeon Hong was appointed to the KFDA Commissioner.  He is known to be very knowledgeable in health and medical issues as he used to be the Head of the Health and Medical Policy Headquarters of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.  He also served as directors of Pension Policy Division, and Insurance Payment Division and PR Officer and Director General for Census and Child Policy of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.  He had a Master’s degree and Ph. D on health economics from the University of York in England.  As Dr. Noh is an administrative officer, the Deputy Commissioner of KFDA if there is new appointment, the official from KFDA who knows technical issues is likely to be appointed.

 

Food Importing Countries Requiring Sanitation Certificates from Korea are on the sharp increase (Korean:  KSW)

http://www.susantimes.co.kr/section/?fn=v&no=7602&cid=21060100

Summary:  Those food importing countries including China, Indonesia, Vietnam, UAE, Hong Kong, etc. requiring English sanitation certificates for foods imported from Korea are on the sharp increase.  The number of the certificates issued for the exports of agricultural, food and fisheries by the Korean government was 12,000 certificates in 2009, 8,630 certificates in 2008 and 6,058 certificates in 2007.