U.S. recognizes S. Korea as free of foot and mouth disease

SEOUL, Dec. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea came one step closer to exporting its pork
and beef to the United States as Washington has recognized it as free of foot and
mouth disease (FMD) and cattle plague, the country's foreign ministry said
Monday.
South Korea has been unable to export pork or beef to the U.S. since March 29,
2000, when the U.S. government prohibited imports of FMD-susceptible animals and
derived products from South Korea, as the country's Gyeonggi Province reported a
suspected FMD outbreak. Seoul has demanded Washington recognize South Korea as a
country free of FMD since May 2007.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the U.S. Department
of Agriculture declared South Korea free of FMD and cattle plague in a recent
press release, the ministry said.
In order to export pork and beef to the U.S., South Korea still has to pass an
evaluation in which its system to inspect livestock sanitation must be proven
equal to that of the U.S., the ministry said.
"We will soon apply for the evaluation for pork and beef exports," a ministry
official said.
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