South Korean inspectors to check U.S. slaughterhouses

South Korea will send a team of inspectors to the United States later this month to ensure that export-eligible slaughterhouses are meeting the requirements of a new bilateral beef trade pact. ‘They are to check if the facilities can safely remove SRMs and properly control the age of animals that can be slaughtered for export to South Korea,’ according to a South Korean official. The revised pact allows U.S. slaughterhouses to export beef from cattle younger than 30 months of age, so long as certain SRMs (specified risk materials) are removed. USDA's ‘Less than 30 Month Age-Verification Quality System Assessment (QSA) Program’ took effect on June 26. USDA press secretary Keith Williams stated that the visit was ‘normal protocol’ and ‘to be expected.’ An exact schedule and a listing of the plants the Korean inspectors will check are among other details still under discussion.