By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter

Gwanakgu Council in southwestern Seoul passed a resolution Monday not to use American beef for public meals. This is the first time that a local council has made a decision of this kind since the government resumed imports of U.S. beef.

The resolution has no legal binding force, but since it already passed a bill earlier this year to block usage of any ``doubtful'' ingredients, the resolution could add additional weight to the bill discouraging eateries to use American beef, a council member said.

The resolution proposed by Lee Dong-young, a member of Democratic Labor Party, bans American beef being used in meals for children or the elderly and others subsidized by the ward office.

``There are some special risky materials such as intestines, backbones, tongues and other parts being imported without restrictions, causing anxiety among Gwanak residents. The quality checkup program is valid for about a year, which is almost a temporary measure. We cannot say that is an effective countermeasure to stem public anxiety,'' said resolution said.

The passage of the resolution is considered unusual as the 22-membered council has 13 governing Grand National Party members, who support the beef imports. Some analysts said there would be extreme differences over the decision, but the voting turned out to be unanimous.

``Of course there was some disagreement. But all members felt that public health should come first and that the resolution could show that politicians are all serious about keeping people healthy,'' Lee told The Korea Times.

He also explained that the announcement could benefit Korean beef, or Hanwoo, farms in the regions. ``We have a sisterhood contract with several provincial areas. If we ban the imported beef then the Korean beef consumption would go up, benefiting our sister towns,'' he said.

``The residents also supported the decision. They know that such resolution cannot block all risks, but at least they know the council is doing its best to create better firewalls,'' he said.

bjs@koreatimes.co.kr