UNITED STATES-South Korea’s leading department store Lotte to sell US beef
Lotte Department Store, the nation’s leading department store chain, is currently taking steps toward the sale of US beef during the first half of this year, while other department stores including Hyundai and Shinsegae are weighing the timing.
Mad Cow Disease caused ban on US beef
US beef was banned by South Korea, which followed a case of mad cow disease in Washington State - confirmed in December 2003.
South Korea had started imports of the meat in October 2006 but then suspended quarantine inspections after banned backbones were detected in a shipment in October 2007.
Cattle under 30 months old
Seoul and Washington signed a new import deal in April 2008. The new import deal had caused mass protests amongst South Korean consumers, which then urged the two countries to limit imports to meat from cattle under 30 months old.
According to reports, local department stores in South Korea have taken on the stance that the public opposition to US beef has now eased as there have been no major problems since discount stores resumed its sale.
E-mart, Homeplus and Lottemart, the top three South Korean discount stores, launched the sale of US beef at the end of November in 2008 to meet growing demand for the cheaper meat.
