Seoul'open'tobeefrenegotiations.hwp
Seoul'open'tobeefrenegotiations(단어).hwp
Seoul 'open' to beef renegotiations
The government said yesterday it is open to the possibility of renegotiating the terms of importing U.S. beef if the United States is deem ed to be exposed to a significantly high risk of mad cow disease.
But it did not specify any conditions for renegotiations, such as the danger level of infection. It also made no reference to which authority it will depend on for assessment of the risk of the brain-wasting disease in cows, formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
"The government said it will consider renegotiating the terms of importation and inspection with the United States if the BSE risk is significantly high, or the disease break s out," said Cho Yun-sun, a spokeswoman for the ruling Grand National Party, after a meeting with Cabinet ministers and the GNP to discuss measures to ensure the safety of beef imports.
The meeting was led by Prime Minister Han Seung-soo and GNP leader Kang Jae-sup.
The government and the ruling party had ruled out any possibility of renegotiation s, which they say would cause a trade dispute and damage the nation's image as a trustworthy trade partner.
The ruling camp revise d its position in the face of growing public apprehension and criticism from opposition parties.
Thousands held candlelight vigil s in Seoul and other cities calling for the deal to be cancel e d. Opposition parties are demanding the government renegotiate the terms to prevent import s of BSE-contaminate d meat.
Despite the objections, the government said it will implement the April 18 agreement with Washington and resume quarantine inspection s of shipment s in mid-May.
The government and the ruling party agreed to expand beef-labeling regulation s to all restaurants, schools, hospitals and military facility ies.
The rules currently apply to restaurants 300 square meters or larger and will include places of 100 square meters or larger as of June 22.
The Cabinet will push for a revision of the law to require all restaurants to specify the country of origin of the meat they serve so that all consumer s will be able to distinguish between domestic and imported beef.
But most restaurants do not abide by the rules, despite fines of up to 10 million won ($9,900) under the current law.
The government promised to strictly supervise restaurants and to crack down on violate ing businesses.
It will also block import s of cuts specifically susceptible to mad cow disease, if the age of the cattle is not specified.
Korea agreed last month to import most cuts from cattle under 30 months old beginning May. Imports of certain cuts from older cattle will be allowed after the United States strengthen s safety measures.
The government said it will ban imports of specified risk materials -- brains, eyes, spinal cord s, and other organ s -- which are categorize d as being most likely to be infected by BSE, if they do not carry a label that prove s the animal was younger than 30 months when butchered.
But enforce ing the measure requires agreement from Washington. Under the April 18 accord, Korea is to import most SRMs -- excluding the tonsil s and the distal ileum, a part of the small intestine -- from animals 30 months or younger.
U.S. exporter s are currently only required to specify the animal's age for backbone cuts.
During the meeting, the GNP leader propose d the formation of a special committee of government officials, political parties, academia and civic groups to devise measures to ensure the safety of beef imports.
He also called for the government to consider additional negotiation s with Washington to enhance safety measures.
"Renegotiating the deal would be impossible under international practices. But we should consider additional negotiations if the agreement include s article s severely unfavorable to us," he said during the meeting.
The main opposition United Democratic Party increased its pressure on the government to renegotiate the deal.
Floor leader Kim Hyo-suk reiterate d that the party will push for the enactment of a special law that would suspend all beef imports from countries hit by mad cow disease and would obligate parliamentary approval on deals that are closely related to public health.
He also promised a thorough examination of the beef deal during a hearing under the parliamentary committee on agricultural and fishery ies affair s today. By Hwang Jang-jin (jjhwang@heraldm.com)
2008.05.07