Veterinarians look at bone-in U.S. beef that has been imported for the first time in four years and seven months at a refrigerated warehouse in Icheon, Gyonggi Province, Tuesday. / Yonhap |
Ribs and other bone-in cuts of U.S. beef Tuesday arrived in South Korea for the first time since they were banned nearly five years ago.
Seoul-based Nerp Corp., a local meat importer, said the initial shipment of about 1.5 tons that meets new import guidelines arrived by plane at Incheon International Airport, earlier in the day.
The shipment from Creekstone Farms Premium Beef consists of choice cuts that will be sold for seasoned rib dishes and broth, which are popular in South Korea.
Under quarantine and customs rules, the meat will undergo about 10 days of inspections before being released for sale early next month.
The arrival of ribs marks the first time such cuts have been allowed into the country since December 2003.
Seoul banned all beef imports from the U.S. after a case of mad cow disease was reported there, but it began conducting quarantine inspections of boneless U.S. beef from cattle under 30 months old in April 2007.
South Korea banned American beef in October last year after bone fragments were found in two packages.
Seoul and Washington reached a new deal on April 18 that permitted all bone-in beef cuts like ribs and T-bone steaks. The agreement went into effect on June 26 after weeks of protests that drew hundreds of thousands of people, who called on the government to renegotiate the entire deal.
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[단독] 르노삼성, 본사 모델로 한국 공략
