Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
Japan, South Korea Halt Import of U.S. Beef
Aired December 24, 2003 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now back to our top story, the first apparent case of mad cow disease in the United States. Mad cow is a transmittable, fatal brain disease in cattle. It has been linked to a similar brain disease in humans. The first cases of mad cow were found in England in the mid-1980s and became widespread during the early '90s. That outbreak led to the mass slaughter of European cows and the ban of beef imports from Europe into the U.S.
This case in the U.S., if confirmed in further tests, would be the first to take place on American soil. The disease has never been passed to humans in this country. The announcement came from the Department of Agriculture and Secretary Ann Veneman, who emphasized that the most dangerous part of the infected cow never made it to the food supply and that safety measures were successful.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANN VENEMAN, AGRICULTURE SECRETARY: The people in North America know that we have the strongest food safety systems in the world. We have the protections in place. And, again, I personally do not hesitate to recommend to anyone that beef is absolutely safe to eat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: The reaction to the news overseas was quick and painful for U.S. beef suppliers. Japan, the number one importer of U.S. beef, imposed an identification ban and plans to recall meat products already on store shelves. Joining Japan is South Korea, Australia and several other Asian nations.
Last year, Japan and South Korea accounted for nearly 50 percent of all U.S. beef imports and like Japan, South Korea already has suspended meat sales to the general public.
CNN's Sohn Jie-Ae joins us on the telephone from Seoul, South Korea with the very latest -- Jie-Ae.
SOHN JIE-AE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Fredricka, in Seoul, just hours after that announcement in the United States, the government immediately put a hold on all U.S. beef at customs points and joined Japan in stopping the sales of U.S. cow parts already in the domestic market. Officials said the moves were precautionary and pending the confirmation of the disease in Washington.
Now, South Korea imports more than two thirds of its beef needs. Imports topped more than $600 million in 2002 and most of that import -- South Korean imports of beef comes from the United States, Australia and New Zealand. South Korea currently bans the beef imports from some 30 countries, including Japan and Canada, following the outbreak of mad cow disease in these countries -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Jie, where now will the majority of their beef supply come from?
SOHN: Well, they only have two more countries, Australia and New Zealand. Also, there is a big domestic cattle market, as well. So there will be more coming from these countries and probably domestic markets will have, there will be a more pricier beef on South Korean tables -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Sohn Jie-Ae on the telephone for us from Seoul, South Korea.
Thanks very much.
More information is just a click away on our Web site. The time line on the spread of the mad cow disease, as well as the impact on financial markets, it's all there. The address is cnn.com. The AOL keyword is CNN.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 24, 2003 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now back to our top story, the first apparent case of mad cow disease in the United States. Mad cow is a transmittable, fatal brain disease in cattle. It has been linked to a similar brain disease in humans. The first cases of mad cow were found in England in the mid-1980s and became widespread during the early '90s. That outbreak led to the mass slaughter of European cows and the ban of beef imports from Europe into the U.S.
This case in the U.S., if confirmed in further tests, would be the first to take place on American soil. The disease has never been passed to humans in this country. The announcement came from the Department of Agriculture and Secretary Ann Veneman, who emphasized that the most dangerous part of the infected cow never made it to the food supply and that safety measures were successful.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANN VENEMAN, AGRICULTURE SECRETARY: The people in North America know that we have the strongest food safety systems in the world. We have the protections in place. And, again, I personally do not hesitate to recommend to anyone that beef is absolutely safe to eat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: The reaction to the news overseas was quick and painful for U.S. beef suppliers. Japan, the number one importer of U.S. beef, imposed an identification ban and plans to recall meat products already on store shelves. Joining Japan is South Korea, Australia and several other Asian nations.
Last year, Japan and South Korea accounted for nearly 50 percent of all U.S. beef imports and like Japan, South Korea already has suspended meat sales to the general public.
CNN's Sohn Jie-Ae joins us on the telephone from Seoul, South Korea with the very latest -- Jie-Ae.
SOHN JIE-AE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Fredricka, in Seoul, just hours after that announcement in the United States, the government immediately put a hold on all U.S. beef at customs points and joined Japan in stopping the sales of U.S. cow parts already in the domestic market. Officials said the moves were precautionary and pending the confirmation of the disease in Washington.
Now, South Korea imports more than two thirds of its beef needs. Imports topped more than $600 million in 2002 and most of that import -- South Korean imports of beef comes from the United States, Australia and New Zealand. South Korea currently bans the beef imports from some 30 countries, including Japan and Canada, following the outbreak of mad cow disease in these countries -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Jie, where now will the majority of their beef supply come from?
SOHN: Well, they only have two more countries, Australia and New Zealand. Also, there is a big domestic cattle market, as well. So there will be more coming from these countries and probably domestic markets will have, there will be a more pricier beef on South Korean tables -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Sohn Jie-Ae on the telephone for us from Seoul, South Korea.
Thanks very much.
More information is just a click away on our Web site. The time line on the spread of the mad cow disease, as well as the impact on financial markets, it's all there. The address is cnn.com. The AOL keyword is CNN.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
