WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2017 – South Korea has formally opened its market to U.S. poultry and eggs after imposing a ban in March over U.S. cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
Poultry slaughtered after Aug. 16 and eggs produced after that date will be eligible for export to South Korea, according to the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council. South Korea has set a temporary duty-free tariff rate quota for up to 28,000 metric tons of eggs and processed egg products through the end of the year.
In a joint statement, the American Egg Board and USA Poultry and Egg Export Council said U.S. producers “are at the ready to once again assist South Korean consumers and food manufacturers” with a reliable supply of U.S. product. The two organizations also said they want South Korea to restrict any future HPAI-related import bans to the affected region of the United States rather than applying it to the entire country.
Korea's nationwide ban was imposed after HPAI cases were detected in Tennessee. The U.S. poultry industry contends a regional approach would be just as effective at stemming the disease due to U.S. biosecurity protocols. Earlier this month, Jim Sumner, president of the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council told Agri-Pulse that he hopes to see a regional approach in place “later in the year – hopefully before another (HPAI) incident.”
Sumner and others are also hopeful for similar action on imports and regionalization from China.
#30
For more news, go to www.Agri-Pulse.com
