U.S. to push for full market access for beef imports [English, CSY]

Analysts say the U.S. goal is both opening the market and tying the issue to KORUS FTA ratification

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_business/469689.html

Summary: It has been confirmed that the United States has established concrete plans for the full opening of the South Korean beef market to be submitted to the South Korean government ahead of ratification of the South Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).  A report released on Mar. 3 by the U.S. Congressional Research Service, titled “U.S.-South Korea Beef Dispute: Issues and Status,” states that “Administration officials have stated that their objective is ‘to eventually secure full market access for U.S. beef’. . ..[but] the Administration may not require achieving this objective before the KORUS FTA is sent to Congress, and instead may seek to secure commitments from South Korea to move in steps toward that goal.” 

With FMD over, new precautions unveiled by gov’t  [English, CSY]

Officials admit they botched their responses after earliest outbreaks

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2933937

Summary: Declaring that the nation’s worst foot-and-mouth outbreak was over, the government yesterday announced a new measure to tighten its oversight of the livestock industry, requiring farmers to apply for permits to operate cattle and pig farms starting next year.  The government has lowered the alert level for the disease, Kim said, adding that authorities are now able to control the situation. Starting next year, only farmers who have proper facilities and who have completed education programs on epizootic preventive measures will be given permits to operate cattle and pig farms. The government said the permit system will be adopted for large-scale farmers, while small-scale farmers will need to register with their local authorities, detailing their farming of chickens, ducks, cattle and pigs. The government said more details on the permit system, including who will be considered large-scale farmers, will be determined by the end of next month.   Under the new plan, the government will also hold farmers accountable for outbreaks after conducting probes on their fulfillment of prevention efforts. A new standard of compensation will also be used to take into account the outbreak time, period and scope of loss, rather than paying uniform compensation based on the number of culled animals.

S. Korea lowers foot-and-mouth alert level [English, CSY]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2011/03/24/35/0501000000AEN20110324009500320F.HTML

Summary: South Korea downgraded its foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) alert one notch from its highest level on Thursday as no fresh cases of the animal disease have been reported in a month.  The country has been fighting the nationwide spread of the livestock epidemic since the first case was confirmed on Nov. 29. It has confirmed 150 cases of the disease nationwide and culled more than 3.47 million cows, pigs and other animals, suffering about 3 trillion won (US$2.6 billion) in damage. Furthermore, concerns over contamination from burial sites are growing.

U.S. to push for full market access for beef imports[English, OYS]

Analysts say the U.S. goal is both opening the market and tying the issue to KORUS FTA ratification

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_business/469689.html

Full text: It has been confirmed that the United States has established concrete plans for the full opening of the South Korean beef market to be submitted to the South Korean government ahead of ratification of the South Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).

A report released on Mar. 3 by the U.S. Congressional Research Service, titled “U.S.-South Korea Beef Dispute: Issues and Status,” states that “Administration officials have stated that their objective is ‘to eventually secure full market access for U.S. beef’. . ..[but] the Administration may not require achieving this objective before the KORUS FTA is sent to Congress, and instead may seek to secure commitments from South Korea to move in steps toward that goal.”

The U.S. Congressional Research Service report entitled “U.S.-South Korea Beef Dispute: Issues and Status,” released Mar. 3.

ROKG releases plan for improving livestock industry and animal diseases control  [Korean: BYK]

http://www.ajnews.co.kr/view.jsp?newsId=20110324000294

Summary: The Korean government announced its plan to improve the Korean livestock industry and control measures for animal diseases.  The so-called ceiling of total number of animals to be raised at each province was dropped from this plan.  Also, the large livestock farms will be able to conduct business on a permit basis.  Livestock movement will be immediately restricted when a major diseases outbreak is detected, such as FMD.