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Friday July 4, 6:50 PMS Korean Consumer Demand for U.S. Beef Increasing: ImportersSEOUL, July 4 Asia Pulse - More small-sized retailers are expected to sell U.S. beef in the coming days following strong initial sales of the product this week by a local beef importer, industry sources said Friday.Park Chang-kyu, owner of A-Meat Co., said a meat store run by his company sold 12 tons of U.S. beef in the last three days, with another 22 tons that have recently cleared quarantine inspections expected to reach shelves soon. The businessman, who is also the temporary chairman of a local meat importers' association, said another store run by the company started selling U.S. beef earlier in the day and that outlets affiliated with A-Meat will follow suit over the weekend. "U.S. beef sales have surpassed those of beef from Australia and New Zealand at those stores," Park said. He added that to offset some negative perceptions of U.S. beef, the importers' association is taking steps to get its 120 member companies to sell the meat at a discount so consumers can buy it more cheaply. Following the brisk sales by A-Meat, other small-time importers and retailers hinted they may start selling U.S. beef as early as next week. "We had originally planned to start handling American beef in early August after the public uproar died down on the issue, but we may try selling part of a 400-ton shipment going through quarantine inspections," said Park Bong-soo, head of a local meat importing company. He claimed other meat importers may move to sell U.S. beef next week, even though large retail outlets like Emart and Lottemart have expressed reservations about selling U.S. beef at present. The response by some consumers contrasts with daily street protests that have taken place over Seoul's decision to resume U.S. beef imports. Record numbers showed up last month to demand renegotiation of the beef pact, which some critics argue permits importation of unsafe meat. Seoul and Washington signed a deal on April 18 and held two additional talks, resulting in an agreement that permitted beef from cattle under 30 months old to be imported if certain risk materials like brains, skulls and spinal cord marrow are removed. The pact that went into effect in late June, which ended the import ban that was in place since October, allows beef ribs, T-bone steaks and intestines to be imported for the first time since 2003. Seoul resumed the importation of boneless U.S. beef in April 2007, but quarantine inspections were suspended later in the year after discovery of banned backbones in shipments. In December 2003, South Korea banned all U.S. beef imports after a case of mad cow disease was reported in the United States. The government, meanwhile, said the U.S. beef currently on sale consists of products that arrived last year, and that imports like ribs are expected to arrive later in the month. (Yonhap) |
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