Korean activists protest in Paris on 20 May 2007 to stop the OIE from lowering the international health risk classification of US beef, which they feel is unjust and will hurt Korean farmers and consumers. (Photo: Yonhap)
In a secret behind-closed-doors deal, struck five days before the two countries signed their free trade agreement, the Korean government promised the US that it would offer a "de facto" relinquishment of its authority to conduct hygiene and quarantine tests on imported US beef, according to The Hankyoreh.
Two months later, on 22 May 2007, the Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), in Paris, adopted a resolution declaring the US a "controlled risk" area for beef — thereby giving international clearance for countries boycotting US beef to resume their imports. Korean farmers were on site to stop the OIE from taking this decision.
The long term health risks from US beef have been a major controversy with the US-Korea FTA. Korea stopped importing US beef once BSE was found in US cattle in 2003. The FTA has been aggressively used by Washington to try to reopen that market ever since.
