Today's Date:     Thursday, December 29, 2011

1. LIVESTOCK ISSUES

Government pushes for Canadian beef imports [English, CSY]

Import health requirements likely to be enforced despite National Assembly’s report against import resumption

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/512407.html

Summary: The government is pushing ahead with imports of Canadian beef despite the findings of a National Assembly review after mad cow disease was detected in the country. The argument is that it is enforcing the import health requirements agreed upon with Canada, since the National Assembly review does not have legally binding force.  However the decision is coming after the Ministry of Legislation previously declared in an examination of related laws that the government is bound by the review, observers are charging that the government is undermining its own legal system.   At a general meeting Tuesday, the National Assembly's Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee (FAFFC) adopted a review report for the Canadian beef import health requirement plan with a general opinion stating, "Canadian beef imports are not appropriate at the present time, and the majority of committee members are opposed."

The Canadian import health requirements are more favorable to South Korea than the outcome of 2008 beef negotiations with the United States. The FAFFC passed the report on to the plenary session without a vote, appending a statement that the majority of members were opposed. In consideration of the fact that mad-cow disease was found in Canada in February, as well as the struggles of livestock farmers owing to free trade agreements and foot-and-mouth disease.   The National Assembly plans to hold a plenary session in the near future to vote on the report.  Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy minister for trade Lee Si-hyung responded at a media briefing Wednesday by saying "all domestic procedures we agreed upon with Canada will be ending" once the National Assembly review is over.

2. MARKETING ISSUES

Additional Case of Infant Formula Food Poisoning Reported in the U.S. [Korean, OSY]

http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/international/2011/12/29/0601180100AKR20111229033200009.HTML?template=2088

Chicago Tribune reported on Dec. 28 that an infant in Oklahoma state was allegedly contaminated by Sakajaki bacteria from infant formula, which was the third case of infant formula food poisoning reported in December.  However, this case was from different infant formula than the Enfamil product that was responsible for the earlier two cases.  CDC and FDA are investigating any connection among the cases.

Three Days to Ban Ocean Dumping of Cattle Waste … Industry is Prepared for the Transition [Korean, OSY]

http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/economy/2011/12/28/0302000000AKR20111228209900052.HTML?template=2089

Summary: Korea is scheduled to fully implement the International Treaty of Anti Ocean Pollution on January 1, 2012, which includes ban on ocean dumping of cattle waste.  So far the livestock industry, with supports from provincial governments, has been preparing alternative measures for the transition, including expansion of existing cattle waste purifying facilities and building of new fertilizer processing plants that uses cattle waste.

3. OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES

Sales of Sweet Potatoes Surge Due to Health Benefits [English, CSY]

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/12/29/2011122900550.html

Full text: As more Koreans take an interest in their health, sales of sweet potatoes have surpassed those of potatoes, one of the most popular snacks in winter.  According to E-Mart, the ratio of sales of potatoes to sweet potatoes in 2009 was roughly 58:42, but this year it shifted to 46:54. The price of sweet potatoes has also risen considerably this year, but sales have somehow not been negatively affected. The wholesale price of sweet potatoes as of last Thursday, according to the Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corporation, was W31,000 per 10 kg, up 25 percent from W24,760 a year ago.

Despite the price hike, sweet potatoes have shot up due to their popularity as a meal substitute for those who want to lose weight. They are a staple food for many celebrities including the hugely popular K-pop band Girls' Generation, and their benefits have been advertised repeatedly on TV. Interesting variations such as sweet potato latte and cake have simply added to their soaring popularity.