WASHINGTON (AFP) — Washington on Saturday confirmed a deal to add extra health safeguards on US beef exports to South Korea, and agreed not to export any cattle older than 30 months in a bid to avert mad cow disease.
"Korean beef importers and US exporters have reached a commercial understanding that only US beef from cattle under 30-months of age will be shipped to Korea, as a transitional measure, to improve Korean consumer confidence," said US Trade Representative Susan Schwab.
Seoul announced the deal earlier Saturday, and the extra safeguards were expected to end a bitter row over beef that saw weeks of mass protests in South Korea which threatened the government.
The deal also includes a ban on parts like brains, eyes, skulls and spinal cords -- on top of those already banned cattle parts -- which are deemed likely to harbor mad cow disease.
"The resumption of US beef exports to Korea is further evidence of our growing trade relationship with Korea," Schwab said.
South Korea was once the third largest market for US beef, with imports worth 850 million dollars a year until they were suspended in 2003 after a US case of mad cow disease.
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