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South Korea lifts ban on feed additive

The ban on the use of the animal feed additive zilpaterol in beef has been lifted in South Korea.  Last October, the food ministry said it intended to ease its zero-tolerance policy on zilpaterol-based drugs after a risk assessment found it could be permitted at certain levels.  According to Reuters, the lifting of the ban opens the door to imports containing the growth enhancer as well as domestic sales of the product.

Last year South Korea suspended some US beef imports for more than two months after traces of the additive were found in two shipments.  A South Korean food ministry official told Reuters that imports of beef muscle with 1 part per billion of zilpaterol, 5 ppb in beef liver, and 10 ppb in beef kidney had been approved in late August.

The United States, Australia, and New Zealand are all major exporters of beef to South Korea.