S. Korea says won’t import beef from older US cattle

SKOREA: President Lee Myung-Bak announced Tuesday that South Korea will not accept imports of US beef from cattle more than 30 months old as he negotiates his biggest test yet since taking office 100 days ago.

After protests that have brought thousands of people onto the streets over fears of mad cow disease, the government imposed the limit as a condition for resuming beef imports which have been intermittently banned for years.

The move risks a stand-off with Washington, but may ease public anger which has seen Lee’s popularity ratings tumble by half since he took power pledging to reactivate the sluggish economy.

“It is natural for the government not to import US beef from cattle older than 30 months, if the people are concerned and the majority of the people do not want it,” Lee was quoted as saying by a spokesman.

Seoul, Tuesday, AFP