OTTAWA - South Korea has taken a "big step" towards allowing imports of Canadian beef to resume after a more than eight-year ban, federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and International Trade Minister Ed Fast said Friday.
The two ministers said ratification by the South Korean parliament of import health requirements for Canadian beef under 30 months of age is among the final steps necessary before beef trade resumes.
"This has been a long journey and today's announcement is a big step forward for our hard working beef producers to once again bring their world class product to the South Korean marketplace," Ritz said.
"The re-opening of this market will benefit our industry and the entire Canadian economy and we look forward to the finalization of the commercially viable agreement and the commencement of trade."
South Korea banned imports of Canadian beef and beef products in May 2003 following the country's first case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE, commonly referred to as mad cow disease. More
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