By Lee Ji-su
Korea Times Intern
The grace period for violations of the mandatory labeling of beef has been extended to Oct. 5, the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced Monday. The regulation, effective since June 22, originally allowed a grace period until Aug. 31 for beef distributors to adjust.
A ministry spokesman said the extension aims to cushion the adverse impact the law will have on the industry's distributors, mostly self-employed butchers, during the high demands of the upcoming Chuseok holiday (Oct. 2 to 4).
Cattle growers, meat packers and processors, retailers, and butchers have complained that the costs of labeling and recordkeeping would be burdensome.
Starting Oct. 6, violators will face a fine of up to five million won, the spokesman said.
The regulation stipulates that locally-produced beef is labeled with information on the product's processing history _ from the cattle's birth to the last retailer that handled the beef.
The information must include the identification number given to all cattle when born, where the cattle was slaughtered, where the meat was packed and processed, the grade, and the cut of the meat.
"We will check whether or not beef selling outlets label the information, and help them understand why the system is introduced during the extended guidance period," an official from the ministry said. He added that the ministry with strengthen "consumer campaigns for the system."
The regulation will prevent imports from being sold as locally-produced beef, thus guaranteeing the latter's quality and commensurate income for cattle farmers, the official said.
To check a cut of beef's processing history, visit the official Web site https://www.mtrace.go.kr/ and type in the 12-digit unique identification number on the label. For more information call 500-2076/7 .