South Korean Hanwoo beef exports to Hong Kong to resume

South Korean Hanwoo beef exports to Hong Kong will resume for the Gyeonggi and Gyeongsangbuk-do regions starting September 1. This follows the successful conclusion of quarantine condition negotiations between the South Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.

The key change in the agreement involves narrowing the scope of export restrictions caused by foot-and-mouth disease. Previously, an outbreak in a single municipality would trigger a ban on all beef produced within the entire province. Under the new terms, restrictions will only apply to the specific city or county where the disease is detected, allowing beef from unaffected areas within the same province to continue exporting.

Last year, beef from Gyeonggi and Gyeongsangbuk-do accounted for 11 tons (valued at $680,000), representing 22% of South Korea's total Hanwoo exports to Hong Kong. This new agreement aims to minimize export damage from livestock diseases and stabilize the trade foundation. This follows a series of recent quarantine agreements with other markets, including the UAE, Singapore, and Vietnam.