US Bone-In Beef Imports Commence
U.S. bone-in beef imports have entered the nation in line with new import rules after a prolonged hiatus.
Local meat importer Nerp Corporation said two-point-two tons of beef with bones arrived at Incheon International Airport at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Nerp said it will provide the beef to distributors and restaurants and analyze their response before beginning regular imports of U.S. beef next month.
Quarantine officials said that under new beef import rules, Seoul will thoroughly inspect the beef shipment in the next ten to fifteen days.
Seoul will reject shipments lacking the quality system assessment label of “QSA for Korea.” The QSA program is run by the U.S. Agriculture Department to verify that American exporters ship meat exclusively from cattle under 30 months of age in line with their voluntary age-labeling program.
The shipment will mark the first time in four years and seven months for such beef parts to enter the Korean market, and the first since Seoul announced new beef import regulations late last month.