South Korea to decide on US beef imports this week

SEOUL, Aug 20 (Reuters) South Korea is expected to decide whether to resume US beef imports by the end of this week, the Agriculture Ministry said today.

Seoul announced on Aug. 2 it stopped quarantine inspections of US beef after finding a spinal column, a banned animal part, in a shipment, effectively keeping the meat out of South Korean stores.

''Last week, we received a letter from Washington that suggested measures to prevent sending risky animal parts to the country,'' the ministry said in a statement.

''We will have a news briefing on resuming US beef imports this week after examining the measures.'' The ministry has said it could ban all US beef imports if Washington does not step up safeguards.

US beef can be shipped to the country, but the meat cannot be brought to market until Seoul lifts the suspension of quarantine inspections.

If the South Korea bans the meat, it will stop all U.S. beef imports and return the 850 tonnes of beef in warehouses that are awaiting inspection.

The ban, however, could hinder the passage of a sweeping bilateral free trade pact between the two countries.

US lawmakers have said they may not approve a free trade deal, the biggest for Washington in some 15 years, if Seoul does not completely open its market to US beef.

REUTERS SW DS1250