Agriland can reveal the suspension of Irish beef exports to South Korea has been lifted and the return of Irish beef products to the market destination can now recommence.
Food Business Operators (FBO’s) were informed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) on Monday, December 2, that Irish beef produced at all FBOs approved to export beef to Korea on or after November 29, can now be exported to the Asian market destination.
A notice to all FBOs approved to export beef to Korea from DAFM’s Meat Market Access Section in the Meat and Milk Policy Division dated December 2, 2024, informed them of this development.
The notice read as follows: “Following confirmation of a case of Atypical BSE and in accordance with the Import Health Requirements, Ireland suspended beef exports to Korea as and from September 19, 2024.
“Ireland received two detailed questionnaires from Korea, which were completed to the satisfaction of the Korean authorities.
“The [Korean] Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) notified the Department of Agriculture, Food Marine that the suspension has been lifted and quarantine procedure of Irish beef into Korea has now resumed. Therefore, beef produced on or after November 29, can now be exported.”
Suspension of beef exports to Korea
Earlier this year, Agriland reported that shipments of beef products to China and South Korea from Ireland had been “temporarily stopped” after an atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was discovered in a cow here.
According to sources, a fallen animal was tested in mid-September, and on foot of those results authorities in China and South Korea were informed and exports of beef halted, in line with the agreements in place with both countries.
Coincidentally at the time, a delegation of veterinary officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine were travelling to China at the time, and used that opportunity to reassure authorities there of Ireland’s control measures for BSE.
The original purpose of that visit was to progress the opening of the Chinese market to other beef product types. Ireland secured access for the export of frozen boneless beef to China in April 2018.
Atypical BSE occurs sporadically in all cattle populations at a very low rate and is not considered a public health risk, unlike classical BSE, or mad-cow disease, which arises from contaminated animal feed.
This is the third time that Irish beef exports to China have been stopped due to a case of atypical BSE.