Agreed Additional Guidelines
June 19, 2008
9060-5 Statement Language:
The beef or beef products were produced at a verified establishment under the USDA "Less than 30 Month Age-Verification Quality System Assessment (QSA) Program for Korea."
Guidance Footnote for T-Bones and Porterhouse steaks:
*This requirement will be in place for 180 days following the effective date of the import health requirements. The Korean government and the U.S. government agree to have consultations upon the completion of the 180 day period with a view to addressing concerns after reviewing the notation’s effect on beef trade and its inspection.
QSA:
During the transitional period, any product accompanied by FSIS 9060-5 Export Certificate of Wholesomeness with a statement in the remarks section stating that "the beef or beef products were produced at a verified establishment under the USDA "Less than 30 Month Age- Verification Quality System Assessment (QSA) Program for Korea" will undergo normal import quarantine inspection.
If the exported product is not accompanied by the statement referenced above, the affected lot will be returned to the owner.
Brain, Eyes, Skull and Spinal Cord
Until specifically requested by a Korean importer, brain, eyes, skull, and spinal cord will not be imported even though these products from cattle less than 30 months of age are not SRMs or food-safety hazards. If these products are identified during normal, sample-based inspection procedures, the relevant box or boxes may be returned to its owner.
Any remnants of the skull and/or spinal cord form animals less than 30 months of age, such as bone chips from the skull or residual tissues from the spinal cord will not result in rejection of the box or boxes.
Sampling:
Beef and beef products imported from the United States will be inspected on a random sample basis (1-3% as outlined in the Basic Guidelines for Management of Imported Livestock Product).
Foreign Material:
If foreign material is identified as part of the normal, random, sample based inspection system, a sample number of subsequent lots from the producing establishment will be x-rayed.
Posting of Korean Veterinarian Officer(s) In the United States:
Veterinary officers posted in the United States will perform functions in the fields of animal health and food safety, including gathering information and working with U.S. government agencies on animal health and food safety issues.
As a member(s) of the Korean auditing team, they may facilitate and conduct on-site audits as provided for in Article 8 of the protocol.
Tissue examination of tongues and intestines:
Prior to conducting microscopic examination of tongues and intestines, Korea and the United States will hold technical consultations to review the scientific background justifying the validity of this examination in detecting SRMs.