Korean quarantine service to check USFK meat products ( 07/01/24 ) | |||||
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Part | Charger | kyj | date | 07/01/24 | |
Korea has secured the right to conduct quarantine inspections on meat imported for U.S. military personnel stationed in the country, the government said Tuesday (Jan. 23). The National Veterinary Quarantine Services (NVRQS) and the United States Forces Korea (USFK) signed a memorandum of understanding last October to cooperate on meat inspections, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said. "Details on how the two sides will cooperate on the matter are being decided through working-level talks," it said. All meat imported for the USFK had been checked exclusively by U.S. experts as outlined in the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), the legal code governing all American troops in the country. Korea started to get partial access starting in 2001 with the revision of the SOFA and started to check for parasites in fruits and vegetables in April 2005. Under the memorandum, U.S. military personnel will hold primary responsibility for conducting quarantine examinations, but Korean officials could carry out unannounced spot inspections on USFK meat quarantine facilities and review records. Also, the head of the NVRQS can receive quarterly reports on examination of meat supplied to military facilities. "The changes being planned will prevent possibly harmful animal-related diseases from entering the country and safeguard the health of thousands of Korean Augmentation Troops to the U.S. Army that serve alongside U.S. soldiers," a ministry official said. The U.S. military will be obliged to take all necessary safety measures if there is an outbreak of animal-related disease from countries that supply meat to American soldiers, he added. Most meat destined for the USFK comes from the U.S. and Australia. They will also be asked to work jointly with Korean inspectors to check meat entering the country to prevent animal disease problems. Mad cow disease, bird flu and other diseases classified as harmful by the World Organization for Animal Health will warrant joint inspections, the ministry said.
quoted from www.korea.net |
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