South Korea has launched new traceability rules for imported beef which aims to reassure consumers over the safety of meat sold in the country. The government is planning to make the system mandatory throughout the country beginning in December. Some industry analysts believe the new requirements will impose considerable costs on imported beef.
In related news, Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) has introduced legislation that would require the tracing of U.S. meat and meat food products that are adulterated or contaminated by food borne pathogens to the source of the adulteration or contamination. Tester's legislation would require USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service to design and implement an initiative to trace tainted meat back to the original source of contamination. There is no additional funding provided in Tester's proposal; any new activities would need to be paid for from the existing FSIS budget.
